•  21
    In animal farming, there is the hope that artificial intelligence (AI) will improve efficiency and increase profits while providing solutions to reduce pollution and pesticide use and improve environmental sustainability, animal health and welfare. However, many are also concerned about AI’s ethical, legal, social, and economic impacts. These include the instrumentalisation of animals, bias caused by AI in how animals are portrayed, allowing the continuation of a harmful farming industry, and co…Read more
  •  18
    One of the main difficulties in assessing artificial intelligence (AI) is the tendency for people to anthropomorphise it. This becomes particularly problematic when we attach human moral activities to AI. For example, the European Commission’s High-level Expert Group on AI (HLEG) have adopted the position that we should establish a relationship of trust with AI and should cultivate trustworthy AI (HLEG AI Ethics guidelines for trustworthy AI, 2019, p. 35). Trust is one of the most important and …Read more
  •  24
    Self-driving vehicles (SDVs) offer great potential to improve efficiency on roads, reduce traffic accidents, increase productivity, and minimise our environmental impact in the process. However, they have also seen resistance from different groups claiming that they are unsafe, pose a risk of being hacked, will threaten jobs, and increase environmental pollution from increased driving as a result of their convenience. In order to reap the benefits of SDVs, while avoiding some of the many pitfall…Read more
  •  21
    While research in the ethics of artificial intelligence (AI) has grown recently, the relationship between AI’s ethical and economic dimensions is under-researched. This is surprising, given the considerable investments in AI by Big Tech companies (e.g., Microsoft, META and IBM) and their ambiguous role in today’s public debate on AI. After the second Trump election, this ambiguity has resulted in industry opposition to rules and regulations (e.g., disinvestments in moderation facilities at socia…Read more
  •  45
    This study investigates the ethical use of Big Data and Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies (BD + AI)—using an empirical approach. The paper categorises the current literature and presents a multi-case study of 'on-the-ground' ethical issues that uses qualitative tools to analyse findings from ten targeted case-studies from a range of domains. The analysis coalesces identified singular ethical issues, (from the literature), into clusters to offer a comparison with the proposed classificati…Read more
  •  18
    The use of a ‘human-centred’ artificial intelligence approach (HCAI) has substantially increased over the past few years in academic texts (1600 +); institutions (27 Universities have HCAI labs, such as Stanford, Sydney, Berkeley, and Chicago); in tech companies (e.g., Microsoft, IBM, and Google); in politics (e.g., G7, G20, UN, EU, and EC); and major institutional bodies (e.g., World Bank, World Economic Forum, UNESCO, and OECD). Intuitively, it sounds very appealing: placing human concerns at …Read more
  •  23
    Ethics and Artificial Intelligence
    In Deborah C. Poff & Alex C. Michalos (eds.), Encyclopedia of Business and Professional Ethics, Springer Verlag. pp. 787-792. 2021.
  •  2
    AI can fundamentally shape our society, raising significant ethical, legal, and social aspects that need careful consideration. Therefore, it is important to educate and train engineering students developing and using AI about ethical, legal, and social aspects. However, teaching this to engineering students with no ethics background poses unique challenges, as engineering is more focused on the development of particular technologies. In addition, engineering education often focuses on artefact-…Read more
  •  23
    AI through the looking glass: an empirical study of structural social and ethical challenges in AI
    with Nina de Roo, Hao Wang, Vincent Blok, and Can Atik
    AI and Society 40 (5): 3891-3907. 2025.
    This paper examines how professionals (N = 32) working on artificial intelligence (AI) view structural AI ethics challenges like injustices and inequalities beyond individual agents' direct intention and control. This paper answers the research question: What are professionals’ perceptions of the structural challenges of AI (in the agri-food sector)? This empirical paper shows that it is essential to broaden the scope of ethics of AI beyond micro- and meso-levels. While ethics guidelines and AI …Read more
  •  43
    Understanding America's Gun Culture (edited book)
    with Lisa Fisher, Craig Hovey, Garrison Allen Crews, Gordon Arthur Crews, Carolyn Gentle-Genitty, Jangmin Kim, Binod Kumar, Corinne Renguette, Riley Satterwhite, Matt Stolick, Jim D. Taylor, David Yamane, and Paul Yamane
    Lexington Books. 2021.
    Drawing on a wide variety of disciplines and presenting perspectives on both sides of the gun debate, Understanding America’s Gun Culture offers a fresh look at the issues surrounding guns in the U.S. today. The book moves past polarization to invite thoughtful, nuanced and innovative exploration of this important topic.
  •  38
    A robot with human values: assessing value-sensitive design in an agri-food context
    with Else Giesbers, Kelly Rijswijk, Mashiat Hossain, and Aneesh Chauhan
    Journal of Responsible Technology 22 (C): 100120. 2025.
  •  80
    We’re only human after all: a critique of human-centred AI
    AI and Society 40 (3): 1303-1319. 2025.
    The use of a ‘human-centred’ artificial intelligence approach (HCAI) has substantially increased over the past few years in academic texts (1600 +); institutions (27 Universities have HCAI labs, such as Stanford, Sydney, Berkeley, and Chicago); in tech companies (e.g., Microsoft, IBM, and Google); in politics (e.g., G7, G20, UN, EU, and EC); and major institutional bodies (e.g., World Bank, World Economic Forum, UNESCO, and OECD). Intuitively, it sounds very appealing: placing human concerns at …Read more
  •  60
    Sovereignty by design and human values in agriculture data spaces
    with Rosa María Gil and Roberto García
    Agriculture and Human Values 42 (3): 1413-1438. 2025.
    Because of the importance of data-sharing for the economy, improved products and services, and to benefit society, the European Union has proposed developing a Common European Data Space (CEDS). The goal is to create a single European data market through 14 domain-specific data spaces (e.g., agriculture, or the Common European Agricultural Data Space (CEADS)). One of the central tenets of the CEDS is to ensure that those who share data can maintain control over who has access to, use of, and abi…Read more
  •  1172
    AI through the looking glass: an empirical study of structural social and ethical challenges in AI
    with Nina De Roo, Hao Wang, Vincent Blok, and Can Atik
    AI and Society 1 (1): 1-17. 2024.
    This paper examines how professionals (N = 32) working on artificial intelligence (AI) view structural AI ethics challenges like injustices and inequalities beyond individual agents' direct intention and control. This paper answers the research question: What are professionals’ perceptions of the structural challenges of AI (in the agri-food sector)? This empirical paper shows that it is essential to broaden the scope of ethics of AI beyond micro- and meso-levels. While ethics guidelines and AI …Read more
  •  34
    Start doing the right thing: Indicators for socially responsible start-ups and investors
    with Eugen Popa, Vincent Blok, Andrea Declich, Maresa Berliri, Alfonso Alfonsi, Simeon Veloudis, Natalia Costanzo, and Martina Iannuzzi
    Journal of Responsible Technology 20 (C): 100094. 2024.
    This paper explores the gap in the literature on social responsibility guidance for start-ups and start-up investors. It begins by evaluating research conducted in two different fields (namely, socially responsible investment (SRI) and responsible research and innovation (RRI)) and how they can guide social responsibility in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) start-ups. To do this, we evaluate an industry-standard SRI catalogue of metrics - the Global Impact Investing Network's…Read more
  •  58
  •  100
    The use of a ‘human-centred’ artificial intelligence approach (HCAI) has substantially increased over the past few years in academic texts (1600 +); institutions (27 Universities have HCAI labs, such as Stanford, Sydney, Berkeley, and Chicago); in tech companies (e.g., Microsoft, IBM, and Google); in politics (e.g., G7, G20, UN, EU, and EC); and major institutional bodies (e.g., World Bank, World Economic Forum, UNESCO, and OECD). Intuitively, it sounds very appealing: placing human concerns at …Read more
  •  66
    Justice and Sustainability Tensions in Agriculture: Wicked Problems in the Case of Dutch Manure Policy
    with Anne-Charlotte Hoes
    Ethics, Policy and Environment 28 (2): 248-265. 2025.
    In recent years, there has been tension between farmers and the Dutch government regarding sustainability policy (in the efforts to reduce the harm caused by manure surplus) and how implementing this policy affects farmers (in the form of justice concerns). We interviewed Dutch farmers to uncover how they view manure policy. We identified four types of injustices: procedural, contributive, distributive, and intergenerational. We propose that a multi-tiered approach is required to overcome these …Read more
  •  23
    Big Data Ethics
    with Ana Fernandez Inguanzo
    In Deborah C. Poff & Alex C. Michalos (eds.), Encyclopedia of Business and Professional Ethics, Springer Verlag. pp. 203-208. 2021.
  •  1219
    Stop re-inventing the wheel: or how ELSA and RRI can align
    Journal of Responsible Innovation (x). 2023.
    Ethical, Legal and Social Aspects (ELSA) originated in the 4thEuropean Research Framework Programme (1994) andresponsible research and innovation (RRI) from the EC researchagenda in 2010. ELSA has received renewed attention inEuropean funding schemes and research. This raises the questionof how these two approaches to social responsibility relate toone another and if there is the possibility to align. There is aneed to evaluate the relationship/overlap between ELSA and RRIbecau…Read more
  •  408
    An AI ethics ‘David and Goliath’: value conflicts between large tech companies and their employees
    with Eleni Christodoulou, Josephina Antoniou, and Kalypso Iordanou
    AI and Society 1-16. forthcoming.
    Artificial intelligence ethics requires a united approach from policymakers, AI companies, and individuals, in the development, deployment, and use of these technologies. However, sometimes discussions can become fragmented because of the different levels of governance or because of different values, stakeholders, and actors involved. Recently, these conflicts became very visible, with such examples as the dismissal of AI ethics researcher Dr. Timnit Gebru from Google and the resignation of whis…Read more
  •  114
    This paper will examine the social and ethical impacts of using artificial intelligence (AI) in the agricultural sector. It will identify what are some of the most prevalent challenges and impacts identified in the literature, how this correlates with those discussed in the domain of AI ethics, and are being implemented into AI ethics guidelines. This will be achieved by examining published articles and conference proceedings that focus on societal or ethical impacts of AI in the agri-food secto…Read more
  •  854
    Ethics and Artificial Intelligence
    In Deborah C. Poff & Alex C. Michalos (eds.), Encyclopedia of Business and Professional Ethics, Springer Verlag. pp. 1-5. 2021.
    A subdiscipline has emerged around AI ethics, which is comprised of a wide array of individuals: computer scientists, ethicists, cognitive scientists, roboticists, legal professionals, economists, sociologists, gender, and race theorists. This has led to a very interesting branch of research, addressing issues surrounding the development and use of AI. This chapter will give a very brief snapshot of some of the most pertinent ethical concerns. Many of the issues in the Big Data Ethics chapter in…Read more
  •  56
    Big Data Ethics
    with Ana Fernandez Inguanzo
    Encyclopedia of Business and Professional Ethics. 2021.
    Big Data ethics3 informs about how data can be used ethically and gives principles and values to decide how to use it. The values and norms proposed within this area of research aim to influence laws and guide the use of data. The field of Big Data ethics is expanding with new digital technologies and applications, such as the creation of smart cities, robots, or biometric technology, where data fuels their development and innovation. Thus, this field relates to other ethics’ fields – bioethics,…Read more
  •  183
    Organisational responses to the ethical issues of artificial intelligence
    with Bernd Carsten Stahl, Josephina Antoniou, Kevin Macnish, and Tilimbe Jiya
    AI and Society 37 (1): 23-37. 2022.
    The ethics of artificial intelligence is a widely discussed topic. There are numerous initiatives that aim to develop the principles and guidance to ensure that the development, deployment and use of AI are ethically acceptable. What is generally unclear is how organisations that make use of AI understand and address these ethical issues in practice. While there is an abundance of conceptual work on AI ethics, empirical insights are rare and often anecdotal. This paper fills the gap in our curre…Read more
  •  117
    Research and Practice of AI Ethics: A Case Study Approach Juxtaposing Academic Discourse with Organisational Reality
    with Bernd Stahl, Kevin Macnish, Tilimbe Jiya, Laurence Brooks, and Josephina Antoniou
    Science and Engineering Ethics 27 (2): 1-29. 2021.
    This study investigates the ethical use of Big Data and Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies (BD + AI)—using an empirical approach. The paper categorises the current literature and presents a multi-case study of 'on-the-ground' ethical issues that uses qualitative tools to analyse findings from ten targeted case-studies from a range of domains. The analysis coalesces identified singular ethical issues, (from the literature), into clusters to offer a comparison with the proposed classificati…Read more
  •  43
    In defence of digital contact-tracing: human rights, South Korea and Covid-19
    International Journal of Pervasive Computing and Communications 1 (1). 2020.
    Purpose The media has even been very critical of some East Asian countries’ use of digital contact-tracing to control Covid-19. For example, South Korea has been criticised for its use of privacy-infringing digital contact-tracing. However, whether their type of digital contact-tracing was unnecessarily harmful to the human rights of Korean citizens is open for debate. The purpose of this paper is to examine this criticism to see if Korea’s digital contact-tracing is ethically justifiable. Desig…Read more
  •  38
    Should we care about the environment because it is economically valuable or because nature has intrinsic value? This book gives a clear overview of some of the main theoretical problems within environmental ethics and offers definitive solutions and alternatives.
  •  88
    Agricultural Big Data Analytics and the Ethics of Power
    Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics 33 (1): 49-69. 2020.
    Agricultural Big Data analytics (ABDA) is being proposed to ensure better farming practices, decision-making, and a sustainable future for humankind. However, the use and adoption of these technologies may bring about potentially undesirable consequences, such as exercises of power. This paper will analyse Brey’s five distinctions of power relationships (manipulative, seductive, leadership, coercive, and forceful power) and apply them to the use agricultural Big Data. It will be shown that ABDA …Read more
  •  285
    Artificial intelligence ethics guidelines for developers and users: clarifying their content and normative implications
    Journal of Information, Communication and Ethics in Society 19 (1): 61-86. 2021.
    Purpose The purpose of this paper is clearly illustrate this convergence and the prescriptive recommendations that such documents entail. There is a significant amount of research into the ethical consequences of artificial intelligence (AI). This is reflected by many outputs across academia, policy and the media. Many of these outputs aim to provide guidance to particular stakeholder groups. It has recently been shown that there is a large degree of convergence in terms of the principles upon w…Read more