Artificial intelligence and algorithmic irresponsibility: the devil in the machine?

This article was co-written by John Latsis, chairman of the Independent Social Research Foundation. The classic 1995 crime film The Usual Suspects revolves around the police interrogation of Roger "Verbal" Kint, played by Kevin Spacey. Kint paraphrases Charles Baudelaire, stating that "the greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist". The implication is that the Devil is more effective when operating unseen, manipulating and conditioning behavior rather than telling people what to do. In the film's narrative, his role is to cloud judgment and tempt us to abandon our sense of moral responsibility.