Human Rights and Artificial Intelligence: An Urgently Needed Agenda

22 Pages Posted: 18 May 2018

See all articles by Mathias Risse

Mathias Risse

Harvard University - Harvard Kennedy School (HKS)

Date Written: May 18, 2018

Abstract

Artificial intelligence generates challenges for human rights. Inviolability of human life is the central idea behind human rights, an underlying implicit assumption being the hierarchical superiority of humankind to other forms of life meriting less protection. These basic assumptions are questioned through the anticipated arrival of entities that are not alive in familiar ways but nonetheless are sentient and intellectually and perhaps eventually morally superior to humans. To be sure, this scenario may never come to pass and in any event lies in a part of the future beyond current grasp. But it is urgent to get this matter on the agenda. Threats posed by technology to other areas of human rights are already with us. My goal here is to survey these challenges in a way that distinguishes short-, medium term and long-term perspectives.

Suggested Citation

Risse, Mathias, Human Rights and Artificial Intelligence: An Urgently Needed Agenda (May 18, 2018). HKS Working Paper No. RWP18-015, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3180741 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3180741

Mathias Risse (Contact Author)

Harvard University - Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) ( email )

79 John F. Kennedy Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
United States
617-495-9811 (Phone)
617-495-4297 (Fax)

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