Industry news/implications
"A Second Life for eHealth: Prospects for the Use of 3-D Virtual Worlds in Clinical Psychology"
Media type: Journal article
Author: Alessandra Gorini (Applied Technology for Neuro-Psychology Lab, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy; Research Institute Brain and Behaviour, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands), Andrea Gaggioli (Applied Technology for Neuro-Psychology Lab, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy, Psychology Department, Catholic University of Milan, Milan, Italy), Cinzia Vigna (Applied Technology for Neuro-Psychology Lab, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy), Giuseppe Riva (Applied Technology for Neuro-Psychology Lab, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy; Psychology Department, Catholic University of Milan, Milan, Italy)
Summary: The paper explores how virtual environments can be leveraged to enhance therapeutic interventions, provide training for clinicians, and improve patient outcomes. The authors discuss various applications of virtual worlds, such as exposure therapy, social skills training, and virtual reality-assisted treatments. They highlight the advantages of immersive experiences, accessibility, and customization options offered by these platforms.
Key takeaway:
VR can be a potential therapeutic tool for digital healthcare (which is said to be the upcoming motivator for engaging in the MV, as reported by McKinsey).
Gamification and the addictive nature of the Metaverse will lead to more addictive behaviors when seeking healthcare interventions in the virtual world, therefore resulting in faster relapse and prolonged treatment outcomes.
Citation: Gorini, A., Gaggioli, A., Vigna, C., & Riva, G. (2008). A second life for eHealth: Prospects for the use of 3-D virtual worlds in clinical psychology. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 10(3), e21. https://doi.org/10.2196/jmir.1029
Media type: Journal article
Author: Yousra Bousba (Rabat Business School, International University of Rabat, Morocco), Vikas Arya (Rabat Business School, International University of Rabat, Morocco)
Summary: The paper explores the concept of utilizing the Metaverse as a new destination for brands to enhance consumers' emotional connection with their brand, increase satisfaction, and encourage advocacy. It delves into the potential benefits of leveraging the immersive nature of the Metaverse to create meaningful brand experiences that foster stronger consumer engagement. The paper highlights the importance of establishing a presence in the Metaverse and emphasizes the potential impact it can have on enhancing consumers' overall brand experience, leading to increased satisfaction and advocacy among customers.
Key takeaway:
Consumer-brand relationships become more transactional in the Metaverse because of the gamification of brand offerings - like "earning" the product keeps consumer more hooked, increases brand allure, and makes consumers more loyal to the brand.
As of now, virtual prizes are not translated into real-world prizes, so consumers don't have the flexibility to choose how to spend their brand benefits.
An important ethical consideration here: since there is no governing body right now for the Metaverse, brands can exploit this by gamifying their offerings a little too much - though it keeps consumers hooked, it also reinforces the idea of "earning" a reward instead of simply purchasing it - which in the long run can result in lesser brand loyalty if consumers don't feel validated by the brand.
Citation: Bousba, Y., & Arya, V. (2022). Let's connect in Metaverse. Brand's new destination to increase consumers' affective brand engagement & Their satisfaction and advocacy. Journal of Content Community and Communication, 15(8), 276-293. https://doi.org/10.31620/jccc.06.22/19
"Extended Reality (XR) Ethics in Medicine"
Media type: Industry report
Author: IEEE
Summary: The report examines the ethical implications of XR technologies, such as virtual reality and augmented reality, in the medical field. It addresses privacy, informed consent, data security, and responsible usage of XR in healthcare. The report offers recommendations to ensure the ethical development, deployment, and regulation of XR applications for medical purposes.
Citation: Evans, J. (2022). Extended Reality (XR) Ethics in Medicine (STDVA25230). IEEE Standards Association. https://standards.ieee.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/whitepaper-ethics-in-medicine.pdf
"Extended Reality (XR) Ethics in Education"
Media type: Industry report
Author: IEEE
Summary: The IEEE report on Extended Reality (XR) Ethics in Medicine examines the ethical implications of XR technologies, such as virtual reality and augmented reality, in the medical field. It addresses privacy, informed consent, data security, and responsible usage of XR in healthcare. The report offers recommendations to ensure the ethical development, deployment, and regulation of XR applications for medical purposes.
Citation: Mangina, E. (n.d.). Extended Reality (XR) Ethics in Education (STDVA25107). IEEE Standards Association. https://standards.ieee.org/wp-content/uploads/import/governance/iccom/xr-in-education.pdf?utm_source=beyondstandards&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=ais-2022
"Ethical Considerations of Extended Reality (XR)"
Media type: Blog article
Author: IEEE
Summary: This report covers diverse areas such as privacy, identity rights, online safety, education, medicine, diversity, inclusion, accessibility, and business/economics, these papers provide insights and recommendations from experts worldwide. They address concerns related to privacy, user safety, equity, and responsible development and usage of XR. The papers aim to guide policymakers, industry professionals, and researchers in promoting ethical practices and regulations in the rapidly advancing field of XR.
Citation: Chang, M. (2023, January 6). Ethical considerations of extended reality (XR). IEEE Standards Association. Retrieved July 14, 2023, from https://standards.ieee.org/beyond-standards/industry/technology-industry/ethical-considerations-of-extended-reality-xr/
"E3XR: An Analytical Framework for Ethical, Educational and Eudaimonic XR Design"
Media type: Journal article
Author: Joey J. Lee, Elliot Hu-Au
Summary: The paper introduces a framework for designing XR experiences that are ethical, educational, and promote well-being. The framework emphasizes the incorporation of ethical principles, educational goals, and the enhancement of human flourishing in XR design. It provides guidelines to create XR experiences that positively impact learning, personal growth, and overall well-being.
Citation: Lee, J. J., & Hu-Au, E. (2021). E3XR: An analytical framework for ethical, educational and Eudaimonic XR design. Frontiers in Virtual Reality, 2. https://doi.org/10.3389/frvir.2021.697667
"Morals of Algorithms - Ethics of AI systems - NXP whitepaper"
Media type: Journal article
Author: NXP
Summary: The paper discusses the ethical considerations surrounding AI systems. The paper presents an AI ethical framework that addresses the principles of transparency, accountability, fairness, and privacy in AI. It highlights the need to incorporate ethical considerations into the development and deployment of AI technologies and emphasizes the importance of responsible AI practices. The white paper serves as a guide for organizations and individuals involved in the development and use of AI systems.
Citation: NXP. (2020). The Morals of Algorithms: A contribution to the ethics of AI systems (AIETHICSWP REV 3). https://www.nxp.com/docs/en/white-paper/AI-ETHICAL-FRAMEWORK-WP.pdf
Media type: Book chapter
Author: Monika Manolova
Summary: The intersection of artificial intelligence, extended reality, and geographic information systems poses ethical risks in two categories: environmental and user-centric interactions. AI's impact on extended reality and its use of geodata can alter experiences. Regulatory frameworks are evolving to protect user rights, but the rapid growth of immersive technologies requires consideration of biases, alternative realities, and emotional effects. Responsible development is crucial to address these ethical concerns in AI-curated mixed realities.
Citation: Monika Manolova. (2021). Ethical Risks in the Cross Section of Extended Reality (XR), Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and Artificial Intelligence (AI). In I. Vasiliu-Feltes & J. Thomason (Eds.), Applied ethics in a digital world. IGI Global. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/357490975_Ethical_Risks_in_the_Cross_Section_of_Extended_Reality_XR_Geographic_Information_Systems_GIS_and_Artificial_Intelligence_AI
Media type: Book chapter
Author: Meryl Shriver-Rice, Sarah Hiepler
Summary: The book explores ethical considerations in the digital realm. It delves into topics such as the ethical implications of digitizing deceased individuals, the design of augmented and virtual realities, and the decolonization of museums. The book examines the ethical challenges and opportunities that arise from these areas and provides insights into responsible practices and considerations for digital technologies
Citation: Shriver-Rice, M., & Hiepler, S. (2023). Digital Ethics: Digitizing the Dead, Designing Augmented and Virtual Realities, and Decolonizing the Museum. Wiley Blackwell. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/363116924_Digital_Ethics_Digitizing_the_Dead_Designing_Augmented_and_Virtual_Realities_and_Decolonizing_the_Museum
Media type: Journal article
Author: Toqeer Ali Syed, Muhammad Shoaib Siddiqui, Hurria Binte Abdullah, Salman Jan, Abdallah Namoun, Ali Alzahrani, Adnan Nadeem Al Hassan, Ahmad Alkhodre
Summary: The paper discusses the growing popularity of augmented reality (AR) and its various components, including tracking technologies, display technologies, and authoring tools. It also explores collaborative AR (CAR) and highlights the lack of security solutions in this area, specifically in distributed trust management. To address this issue, the authors propose a trusted CAR architecture focused on tourism, which can serve as a model for secure AR-based remote communication sessions. The study provides a comprehensive review, offering insights for researchers and business transformations while emphasizing the need for secure solutions in CAR.
Citation: Syed, T. A., Siddiqui, M. S., Abdullah, H. B., Jan, S., Namoun, A., Alzahrani, A., Nadeem, A., & Alkhodre, A. B. (2022). In-depth review of augmented reality: Tracking technologies, development tools, AR displays, collaborative AR, and security concerns. Sensors, 23(1), 146. https://doi.org/10.3390/s23010146
"The Metaverse: Never Too Soon to Discuss Ethics"
Media type: Blog article
Author: Merav Ozair
Summary: Metaverse is expected to rely on blockchain technology, digital assets like NFTs, AI, and IoT for seamless communication and monetization. Major tech companies like Meta (formerly Facebook), Microsoft, Qualcomm, Alibaba, and ByteDance are making substantial investments in metaverse development. While the exact impact is unknown, the metaverse presents opportunities, risks, and ethical concerns. Building ethical frameworks from the beginning is crucial, ensuring trust and addressing issues like privacy, inequality, accessibility, and identity control. A decentralized metaverse based on blockchain and DAOs could foster universal communities with shared ethical standards.
Citation: Ozair, M. (2022, July 12). The Metaverse: Never Too Soon to Discuss Ethics. Nasdaq. Retrieved July 17, 2023, from https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/the-metaverse%3A-never-too-soon-to-discuss-ethics
Media type: Research paper
Authors: Jaana Hallamaa, Taina Kalliokoski
Summary: The paper argues for a more robust and influential approach to AI ethics by adopting tools and approaches from other fields of study. While various suggestions for AI ethics exist, their impact has been limited. The authors suggest that one reason for this limited influence is the current conception of applied ethics in AI.
To address this, the paper proposes looking to bioethics as a point of reference for AI ethics. By considering metaethical and methodological approaches from bioethics, AI ethics can be made more methodologically sound and substantively influential.
The authors suggest adopting tools such as systems theory, safety research, impact assessment approach, and theory of change from other fields. These tools can help improve the quality of human action in AI development and safeguard desired outcomes.
By enriching AI ethics with these resources, the paper argues that designers and practitioners will have a stronger foundation for ethical decision-making and a more significant impact on the development and deployment of AI technologies.
Citation: Hallamaa, J., & Kalliokoski, T. (2022). AI Ethics as Applied Ethics. Frontiers in Computer Science, 4. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcomp.2022.776837
"Toward an Ethics of AI Belief"
Media type: Research paper
Author: Winnie Ma, Vincent Valton
Summary: The paper argues for the need to explore a new area of philosophical research in AI - the epistemology of AI, specifically focusing on an ethics of belief for AI. The authors, an ethicist of belief and a machine learning scientist, suggest that the current philosophical research in AI has mainly centered around the ethics of AI, and now it's crucial to delve into the epistemological aspects.
They define the ethics of belief as a sub-field within epistemology concerned with examining the moral, practical, and other non-alethic dimensions of belief. The authors prioritize the normative question of what agents, both human and artificial, should believe rather than descriptive questions about evaluative standards like truth, justification, or knowledge.
The paper identifies four topics from existing work in the ethics of human belief that can be applied to the ethics of AI belief: doxastic wronging by AI, morally owed beliefs, pragmatic and moral encroachment on AI beliefs, and moral responsibility for AI beliefs. They also highlight the nascent area of research in epistemic injustice and AI, which has moral and practical dimensions but hasn't been recognized as part of the ethics of AI belief.
By exploring these topics and considering the ethical dimensions of AI beliefs, the authors aim to contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of AI's epistemological and ethical implications. This research can guide discussions on how AI systems should form beliefs and the moral responsibilities associated with their beliefs.
Citation: Ma, W., & Valton, V. (2023). Toward an Ethics of AI Belief. Preprint:2304.14577.
Media type: Research paper
Author: Hannah Bleher (University of Bonn), Matthias Braun (University of Bonn)
Summary: The article examines current applied ethics approaches to artificial intelligence (AI) and addresses the criticism that they are too principles-oriented and have a theory-practice gap. The three approaches explored are the embedded ethics approach, the ethically aligned approach, and the Value Sensitive Design (VSD) approach.
The authors analyze each approach's understanding and conceptualization of theory and practice. The embedded ethics approach focuses on context but risks bias. Ethically aligned approaches are principles-oriented but lack justification theories for handling trade-offs between competing principles. The VSD approach incorporates stakeholder values but needs to be linked to political, legal, or social governance aspects.
Based on critical theory, the authors propose a meta-framework for applied AI ethics with three dimensions. Firstly, they suggest including affects and emotions in the ethical decision-making process to consider vulnerabilities, experiences of disregard, and marginalization. Secondly, justifying normative background theories can provide standards and criteria for prioritizing or evaluating competing principles in cases of conflict. Thirdly, reflecting the governance dimension helps reveal power structures and ensures ethical AI by combining social, legal, technical, and political concerns.
The meta-framework acts as a reflective tool to understand and assess the theory-practice conceptualizations within AI ethics approaches. It aims to address the blind spots of existing approaches and support the development of more comprehensive and robust ethical frameworks for AI.
Citation: Bleher, H., & Braun, M. (2023). Reflections on putting AI ethics into practice: How three AI ethics approaches conceptualize theory and practice. Science and Engineering Ethics, 29(3). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-023-00443-3
Media type: Book chapter
Author: Paula Boddington
Summary: This chapter provides an overview of the current state of AI ethics, discussing its main themes and the factors that have shaped its development. The chapter introduces the key value issues in AI ethics, such as freedom and autonomy, justice and fairness, transparency and explanation, beneficence and nonmaleficence, responsibility, privacy, trust, sustainability, dignity, and solidarity. For each value issue, brief case studies are presented along with exercises to prompt critical thinking and further exploration.
The chapter highlights the importance of understanding historical concerns about technology to shed light on current apprehensions regarding AI. It briefly examines historical concerns related to robots, writing, machines, data and statistics, and earlier computing technologies that preceded specific concerns about AI.
Additionally, the chapter discusses the current state of AI ethics, including efforts to implement ethical guidance in policies and practices. It also presents a case study on indigenous AI protocols, emphasizing the value of diverse perspectives in shaping ethical considerations in AI.
Citation: Boddington, P. (2023). The Rise of AI Ethics. In AI Ethics (pp. 35-89). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-9382-4_2
Media type: White paper
Author: KPMG
Summary: This report highlights the growing interest and adoption of extended reality (XR) technologies, which immerse users in new virtual worlds. The authors believe that the industry is at a crucial turning point and emphasize the importance of businesses taking action now. The report includes interviews with global experts and industry leaders who share their thoughts on the future of XR, its impact on businesses, and its connection to the popular concept of the metaverse. While the industry is rapidly evolving, the report aims to capture key themes, predictions, and insights for business leaders to make informed decisions and take advantage of the opportunities presented by XR.
Citation: Future of Extended Reality. (2022). KPMG. https://assets.kpmg.com/content/dam/kpmg/au/pdf/2022/future-of-XR-white-paper.pdf
Citation: Kent Bye. (2019, November 5). XR Ethics Manifesto [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXgY3YXxqJ8
"Manipulating the Mind - The Ethical Limits of Virtual Reality - Cortney Harding #TOA17"
Citation: Tech Open Air. (2017, August 10). Manipulating the Mind - The Ethical Limits of Virtual Reality - Cortney Harding #TOA17 [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8lI-uNVkfM
Citation: Moody College of Communication. (2018, April 18). Media Ethics Initiative: The Ethics of Virtual Reality [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5q91WwroDC4
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