Preface

A few millennia of recorded civilisation has now reached a stage that respect for human rights and values has emerged as a major global challenge largely driven by the advent and widespread deployment of Autonomous Decision Making and Algorithmic Learning Systems (ADM/ALS). The potential threat to human agency, rights, values, and freedoms arising from human-made artefacts and Artificial Intelligence (AI) is largely behind the recent revival of interest in ethics. This is analogous to the mind-body dualism of Rene Descartes that placed mankind on top of the natural order, and nature as subservient to man's intellect and to be exploited. Spinoza, a prominent philosopher of the Age of Enlightenment challenged Cartesian dualism by pointing out that while humans and nature are different, they represent aspects of a unified grand reality. The current trends in technology ethics resemble the rebirth of a new dualism, humans versus the artefacts of their mind and endeavours, autonomous intelligent machines.

This book informs decision-makers and practitioners about best practices in the emerging field of technology and AI ethics.

The chapters fall into three categories to guide the readers to gain insight from generic fundamentals to discipline-specific case studies and state of practice in technology ethics. The three broad categories are:


For sharing their knowledge, their professional stance, hard efforts, and diligence in reviewing and implementing the proposed enhancements to their manuscript, we would like to thank all authors who have contributed to this book. We have also incorporated reviewers' recommendations and the book is much improved as a consequence.

Special thanks goes to Author Service Manager Sara Gojević-Zrnić at IntechOpen for her prudence, dedicated support in the submission and reviewing process, and her suggestions for further improvement. Finally, all thanks to IntechOpen for publishing this book.

> **Ali G. Hessami, Ph.D., BSc (Hons), EurIng, CEng, FIET, SMIEEE** Professor, Director of R&D and Innovation Vega Systems, London, United Kingdom

**Patricia Shaw LLB(Hons), LLM, FRSA** CEO and Founder, Beyond Reach – a Tech Ethics (Governance, Policy and Legal) Consultancy, Greater Nottingham, United Kingdom
