Navigating the ethical landscape of AI on the road

Navigating the ethical landscape of AI on the road

Short Url

In the vibrant city of Techville, a new debate has taken center stage: The ethics of artificial intelligence, particularly in the realm of driverless cars.

Picture this: A bustling intersection, a driverless car, and a family of ducks waddling across the road. It’s a dilemma straight out of Punch and Judy.

Punch, the ever-optimistic puppet, argues: “Driverless cars, my dear Judy, are the future! They’ll make our roads safer, reduce traffic jams and maybe even find a parking spot downtown on a Friday night. What’s not to love?”

Ah, but Judy, ever the skeptic, counters: “But Punch, what happens when the car faces the classic ethical dilemma? Does it swerve to avoid hitting a group of pedestrians, potentially endangering its passenger, or does it stay the course and risk harming the pedestrians?”

But behind the whimsy lies a serious conundrum. Should our autonomous vehicles prioritize the safety of their passengers above all else, even if it means squashing innocent ducklings? Or should they take a more democratic approach, where the needs of the many, or in this case the many webbed feet, outweigh the needs of the few?

In Techville, opinions vary.

“I bought my driverless car to protect me,” argues Mr. Pennyworth, an avid collector of vintage gadgets and frequent patron of the city’s hipster coffee shops. “If it’s not going to prioritize my safety, then what’s the point?”

But not everyone is on Team Pennyworth.

“We can’t just trample over the little guys,” protests Ms. Haversham, a self-proclaimed environmentalist and founder of the Techville Birdwatchers Society. “If our driverless cars start mowing down wildlife left and right, we might as well go back to riding bicycles.”

Meanwhile, the city’s residents continue to grapple with more practical concerns.

Next time you find yourself behind the wheel of a self-driving car, just remember to keep your eyes on the road — and your heart in the right place.

Rafael Hernandez de Santiago

“I don’t care if my driverless car runs on organic kale smoothies or solar power,” declares Ms. Rodriguez, a wellness influencer with a penchant for Instagram-worthy yoga poses. “As long as it gets me to my juice cleanse appointments on time, I’m golden.”

As the debate rages on, one thing becomes abundantly clear: The future of transportation in Techville is anything but predictable.

Will our driverless cars become beacons of ethical virtue, cruising the streets with the grace of a ballerina in a tutu? Or will they succumb to the same moral pitfalls as their human counterparts, engaging in petty road rage and aggressive honking?

Enter the philosophical musings of Immanuel Kant, who once said: “Act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law.”

In other words, if you wouldn’t want everyone else doing the same thing in the same situation, maybe it’s not such a great idea. Apply this to driverless cars and suddenly Punch and Judy are in a full-blown moral quandary.

Only time will tell. But one thing is for certain: The ethical implications of artificial intelligence are never far from our minds. So, the next time you find yourself behind the wheel of a self-driving car, just remember to keep your eyes on the road — and your heart in the right place.

But fear not, dear citizens of Techville, for amid the chaos and confusion, there is hope. Engineers and ethicists are working tirelessly to program AI with a moral compass, teaching it to navigate the murky waters of right and wrong.

In conclusion, let us heed the words of that wise old philosopher Plato, who famously said: “We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.”

Let us not be afraid to shine a light on the ethical implications of artificial intelligence, for only then can we truly navigate the path to a brighter future — one where Punch and Judy can finally set aside their differences.

  • Rafael Hernandez de Santiago, viscount of Espes, is a Spanish national residing in Saudi Arabia and working at the Gulf Research Center.
Disclaimer: Views expressed by writers in this section are their own and do not necessarily reflect Arab News' point of view

International Maritime Organization welcomes Saudi Arabia’s permanent representative

International Maritime Organization welcomes Saudi Arabia’s permanent representative
Updated 1 min 16 sec ago
Follow

International Maritime Organization welcomes Saudi Arabia’s permanent representative

International Maritime Organization welcomes Saudi Arabia’s permanent representative
  • The Kingdom secured a place on the IMO’s 40-member council for 2024 and 2025

RIYADH: The International Maritime Organization accepted on Wednesday the credentials of Saudi Arabia’s first permanent representative, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez welcomed Kamal bin Mohammed Al-Junaidi to the organization during a meeting in London. The event was attended by the Saudi deputy transport minister, Rumaih bin Mohammed Al-Rumaih.

The UK-based UN agency is the global maritime authority that sets international standards designed to ensure the safety and security of maritime transport. 

It also aims to reduce pollution from ships and implement initiatives that help preserve the marine environment and protect nature.

Saudi Arabia won a majority vote in December to become a member of the IMO’s 40-member council for 2024 and 2025.

Al-Junaidi will represent Saudi Arabia during IMO events, including the signing of maritime agreements, treaties, and codes.

He will highlight Riyadh’s efforts and plans to develop its maritime transport industry and international trade.

By 2030, Saudi Arabia aims to handle 40 million containers a year, facilitate cargo-handling procedures and develop marine tourism through cruise ships and coastal transportation.

The representation at the IMO highlights the Kingdom’s strategic maritime location, including its coastline along the Red Sea through which 13 percent of global trade passes.


Closing Bell: Saudi main index slips to close at 11,840

Closing Bell: Saudi main index slips to close at 11,840
Updated 10 min 51 sec ago
Follow

Closing Bell: Saudi main index slips to close at 11,840

Closing Bell: Saudi main index slips to close at 11,840
  • Parallel market Nomu gained 681.17 points, or 2.28%, to close at 30,540.28
  • MSCI Tadawul Index lost 4.52 points, or 0.30%, to close at 1,486.82

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index slipped on Thursday, losing 27.40 points, or 0.23 percent, to close at 11,840.52. 

The total trading turnover of the benchmark index was SR5.39 billion ($1.43 billion), as 98 of the stocks advanced and 131 retreated. 

The Kingdom’s parallel market Nomu gained 681.17 points, or 2.28 percent, to close at 30,540.28. This comes as 63 of the listed stocks advanced, while 23 retreated. 

The MSCI Tadawul Index lost 4.52 points, or 0.30 percent, to close at 1,486.82. 

The best-performing stock of the day was Al-Baha Investment and Development Co., whose share price surged 10 percent to SR0.33. 

Other strong performers included Saudi Reinsurance Co., with a 7.05 percent increase in its share price to SR43.30, and Saudi Chemical Co., which saw its share price rise 5.46 percent to SR10.24. 

Saudi Cable Co. recorded the largest decline, with its share price dropping 4.02 percent to SR97.90. 

CHUBB Arabia Cooperative Insurance Co. also saw its stock fall 3.13 percent to SR49.50. 

Naseej International Trading Co. experienced a 2.64 percent drop in its share price, which fell to SR92.30. 

On the announcements front, Saudi Awwal Bank has disclosed its intention to issue an SR-denominated Additional Tier 1 Sukuk through a private placement in the Kingdom, as part of its SR20 billion Additional Tier 1 Sukuk issuance program. 

According to a Tadawul statement, the bank has appointed HSBC Saudi Arabia as the sole lead manager for the proposed offer. The statement said the purpose of the issuance is to strengthen the bank’s capital base and support the achievement of its long-term strategic objectives. 

The amount and terms of the sukuk will be determined at a later stage, based on market conditions at that time. 

Saudi Awwal Bank closed the session at SR31.40, down 0.63 percent. 

The Saudi Investment Bank has announced the completion of its US dollar-denominated Additional Tier 1 capital sustainable sukuk offering under its Additional Tier 1 capital sukuk program. 

A bourse filing revealed that the offer is valued at $750 million, comprising 3,750 sukuk with a par value of $200,000 each and a return of 6.275 percent. 

The sukuk have a perpetual maturity, callable after five years. Settlement of the sukuk issuance is scheduled for Nov. 27, and the sukuk will be listed on the London Stock Exchange’s International Securities Market. 

Saudi Investment Bank closed the session at SR13.88, down 0.29 percent. 


International sustainability accreditation for Buraidah Oasis

International sustainability accreditation for Buraidah Oasis
Updated 3 min 57 sec ago
Follow

International sustainability accreditation for Buraidah Oasis

International sustainability accreditation for Buraidah Oasis
  • Buraidah Oasis’ carbon footprint report, certified by a German government board, revealed that it has zero emissions
  • Oasis is home to a million trees, surrounding a lake holding 86,000 cubic meters of treated water

RIYADH: Buraidah Oasis has received international accreditation for its water and carbon sustainability, reported Saudi Press Agency.

The site’s carbon footprint report, certified by a German government board, revealed it has zero emissions and serves as a giant reservoir that absorbs carbon from the atmosphere at a rate of 0.12 percent per year.

The certificate of accreditation was presented to National Water Company CEO Fuad Al-Sheikh Mubarak.

As the first anniversary since its launch approaches, a spokesperson for the National Water Company-sponsored project described the oasis as one of the Kingdom’s “most important projects related to environmental sustainability efforts.”

The Buraidah Oasis is home to a million trees, surrounding a lake holding 86,000 cubic meters of treated water produced from the National Water Company’s plant — part of its vision for sustainability and environmental regeneration.

Irrigated with recycled water from the treatment plant, the project forms part of the company’s contribution to the Saudi Green Initiative. 

A reem antelope sanctuary was recently opened in the oasis, with 15 antelopes recently released into the sanctuary which occupies an area of 50,000 square meters.

Earlier in October, Mohammed Qurban, CEO of the National Center for Wildlife, said that the biodiversity of the oasis was assessed regularly to determine the importance of releasing endangered species, including both resident and migratory animals.


At least 38 killed as gunmen open fire on vehicles carrying Shiites in northwest Pakistan

At least 38 killed as gunmen open fire on vehicles carrying Shiites in northwest Pakistan
Updated 14 min 17 sec ago
Follow

At least 38 killed as gunmen open fire on vehicles carrying Shiites in northwest Pakistan

At least 38 killed as gunmen open fire on vehicles carrying Shiites in northwest Pakistan
  • No one immediately claimed responsibility for the latest attack
  • Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said at least 38 people were killed in the “terrorist attack“

PESHAWAR: Gunmen opened fire on vehicles carrying Shiite Muslims in Pakistan’s restive northwest on Thursday, killing at least 38 people, including six women, and wounding 20 others in one of the region’s deadliest such attacks in recent years, police said.
The attack happened in Kurram, a district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province where sectarian clashes between majority Sunni Muslims and minority Shiites have killed dozens of people in recent months.
No one immediately claimed responsibility for the latest attack. It came a week after authorities reopened a key highway in the region that had been closed for weeks following deadly clashes.
Local police official Azmat Ali said several vehicles were traveling in a convoy from the city of Parachinar to Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, when gunmen opened fire. He said at least 10 passengers were in critical condition at a hospital.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said at least 38 people were killed in the “terrorist attack.” Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari condemned the attack, and Sharif said those behind the killing of innocent civilians will not go unpunished.
A witness, 35-year-old Mir Hussain, said he saw four gunmen emerge from a vehicle and open fire on buses and cars.
“I think other people were also firing at the convoy of vehicles from nearby open farm field,” he said. “The firing continued for about 40 minutes.” He said he hid until the attackers fled.
“I heard cries of women, and people were shouting for the help,” he said.
Baqir Haideri, a local Shiite leader, denounced the assault and said the death toll was likely to rise.
Shop owners in Parachinar announced a strike on Friday to protest the attack.
Shiite Muslims make up about 15 percent of the 240 million population of Sunni-majority Pakistan, which has a history of sectarian animosity between the communities.
Although they live together largely peacefully, tensions have existed for decades in some areas, especially in parts of Kurram, where Shiites are the majority. Nearly 50 people from both sides were killed over a land dispute in July when clashes between Sunni and Shiites erupted in Kurram.
Pakistan is tackling violence in the northwest and southwest, where militants and separatists often target police, troops and civilians. Most of the violence in these areas has been blamed on the Pakistani Taliban and the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army.


Israel strikes south Beirut as Hezbollah says targeted south Israel

Israel strikes south Beirut as Hezbollah says targeted south Israel
Updated 22 min 12 sec ago
Follow

Israel strikes south Beirut as Hezbollah says targeted south Israel

Israel strikes south Beirut as Hezbollah says targeted south Israel
  • Lebanon’s official National News Agency reported three raids “within the third round of strikes on the southern suburbs today“
  • AFPTV footage showed columns of smoke rising from the area, usually a densely populated residential district but now largely emptied

BEIRUT: Successive rounds of Israeli strikes hit Hezbollah’s southern Beirut stronghold Thursday after Israeli military evacuation warnings, while Hezbollah claimed a series of attacks including on a base near south Israel’s Ashdod, its deepest so far.
Lebanon’s official National News Agency reported three raids “within the third round of strikes on the southern suburbs today,” saying they hit the Haret Hreik and Hadath areas.
It had earlier reported two other rounds of three raids each on the southern suburbs, including a “very violent strike” on Haret Hreik and a raid on the Kafaat neighborhood that destroyed a building and damaged others nearby.
AFPTV footage showed columns of smoke rising from the area, usually a densely populated residential district but now largely emptied.
Israeli army spokesman Avichay Adraee on social media platform X issued several rounds of evacuation warnings for areas in the southern suburbs, saying the military would target Hezbollah “facilities and interests,” pinpointing six buildings.
The Israeli military in a statement said its air force carried out strikes on “Hezbollah command centers and terror infrastructure” in the southern suburbs, which it has hit repeatedly since September 23 when it escalated air raids against the Iran-backed group.
Hezbollah claimed a series of attacks on Israeli troops in south Lebanon and on military facilities across the border including a drone attack on the Haifa naval base, which it has repeatedly claimed strikes against.
The group also said its fighters “targeted... for the first time, the Hatzor air base” near the southern city of Ashdod, around 150 kilometers (90 miles) from Lebanon’s southern border with Israel, “with a missile salvo.”
Israeli first responders said a man was killed on Thursday after rocket fire from Lebanon hit the Galilee region in Israel’s north.
The renewed Israeli strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs came after two days of relative calm in Beirut and its suburbs while US envoy Amos Hochstein visited, seeking to broker an end to the almost two-month-long Israel-Hezbollah war.
Hochstein was to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday, the premier’s office said.
The Israeli army also issued evacuation warnings for areas in and around the southern coastal city of Tyre, while the NNA reported Israeli strikes in south and east Lebanon.
Lebanon’s health ministry said on Wednesday that at least 3,558 people had been killed in the violence since October 2023.
Most of the deaths have been since September this year, when Israel began its massive bombing campaign and later sent ground forces in to Lebanon.
The Israeli military said Wednesday that three soldiers, including a 70-year-old, were killed in south Lebanon, bringing to 52 the number killed in Lebanon since the start of ground operations.