What You Need to Do

Read and respond to a workplace scenario that presents an ethical dilemma in at least two Discussion posts. In your response, address what you would do in the situation and suggest strategies to avoid the dilemma in the future. Discuss the posted options with your group. Use the step-by-step instructions below to complete the task.

How This Activity Connects to the Course

Ethical considerations matter in everything that you write in the workplace. You may well find yourself in a situation similar to this scenario once you graduate (or even sooner as an intern). This Discussion focuses on the technical accuracy of AI-generated writing.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Success Tip

You can use the online texts, any notes that you have, and the available course pages in Canvas for help as you work on these questions. You can also talk to one another.

  1. Read the scenario below and consider the ethical dilemma involved for Rene.
  2. In your your first post, do the following:
    1. Present a position statement that answers the question “What would you do in this situation?”
      • Provide reasoning from your own personal code of ethics. Here you focus on what YOU think is right.
      • Provide reasoning from your discipline’s code of ethics, OR Provide at least one supporting statement or example from the Ethics Resource Module.
    2. Explain what Rene and the company should do in the future to avoid such situations.
  3. Read the posts from others in your group, paying attention to how you agree or disagree on their solutions.
  4. Write at least one additional post to discuss the solution your group will recommend and the actions Rene and the company should take to avoid such dilemmas in the future.

The Scenario

Algorithmic Accountability and AI in Software Development

A realistic photo of a French Algerian transgender person in Silicon valley. They are working on a laptop in the laid-back company’s headquarters.
Image created with Midjourney

Ironclad Cyber Defense, a leading cybersecurity firm, uses advanced AI algorithms to generate software code for their clients. The AI tool, known as CodeGuard, is designed to enhance security protocols by autonomously developing and implementing code changes. However, recent incidents have raised concerns about the accountability of decisions made by AI algorithms, particularly when these decisions result in ethical breaches or harm.

Scenario

Rene, a senior software developer at Ironclad Cyber Defense, discovers that CodeGuard has generated a series of updates that inadvertently compromised client data security. This breach has affected several high-profile clients, leading to significant data leaks. As the situation unfolds, Rene realizes that the internal communication and documentation regarding these AI-generated changes are insufficient, making it challenging to track and address the specific updates that caused the breach.

Rene must now decide how to handle this situation. Should they prioritize improving internal communication and documentation processes to ensure better accountability for AI-generated code, or should they focus on immediate damage control and client communication to mitigate the impact of the breach?

Options for Rene

  • Improve Internal Communication: Rene can propose a new internal documentation protocol that tracks all AI-generated code changes, ensuring that each update is thoroughly reviewed and logged.
  • Focus on Immediate Damage Control: Rene can prioritize addressing the current breach by communicating with affected clients and implementing quick fixes, delaying improvements to internal processes until later.
  • Combine Approaches: Rene can attempt to balance both strategies, allocating time and resources to immediate damage control while simultaneously initiating improvements in internal communication and documentation.
  • Conduct an External Audit: Rene can suggest bringing in an external auditor to review the AI-generated code changes and recommend best practices for preventing future breaches.
  • Temporarily Halt AI Deployments: Rene can propose a temporary halt on all AI-generated code deployments until a thorough review and improvement of internal documentation and accountability processes are completed.

Issues to Consider as You Decide What Rene Should Do

  • Accountability: Who is responsible for the harm caused by the AI-generated code: the developers, the users, or the company deploying the software?
  • Transparency: How can Ironclad Cyber Defense improve transparency in the AI decision-making process?
  • Client Trust: How will each option impact client trust and the company’s reputation?
  • Resource Allocation: What are the resource implications of prioritizing internal communication improvements versus immediate damage control?
  • Long-term Solutions: Which option provides the most sustainable solution to prevent future ethical breaches and ensure accountability?

Conclusion

Rene faces a challenging decision that requires balancing immediate client needs with long-term improvements to the company’s AI accountability practices. Will Rene make a choice that addresses the immediate crisis or the need for sustainable, ethical AI deployment in the future?

Assessment

I will mark your participation in this Discussion Complete (or Incomplete) after the end of the Grace Period passes and I confirm that you have made at least two posts (required: one response to the original scenario, and a second in response to others in your class). Allow me several days to read and mark all your posts.