How we can make "good" artificial intelligence, what does it mean for a machine to be ethical, and how can we use AI ethically? Good in the Machine – 2019's SCINEMA International Science Film Festival entry – delves into these questions, the origins of our morality, and the interplay between artificial agency and our own moral compass. Read on to learn more about AI ethics. Given a swell of dire warnings about the future of artificial intelligence over the last few years, the field of AI ethics has become a hive of activity. These warnings come from a variety of experts such as Oxford University's Nick Bostrom, but also from more public figures such as Elon Musk and the late Stephen Hawking.

As technology evolves at a rapid rate – especially technology that incorporates artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities – so too does the potential for bias, disconnect, misuse of data, and the automation of impersonal actions or decisions. With the vast amounts of data collected, stored, and exchanged, capitalist societies risk the commoditization of personal data at the expense of the individual, instead of using personal data to foster valuable individual and societal relationships. In business, AI and machine learning are increasingly used as part of smart systems that analyze large amounts of data to identify trends that will benefit the business, like capturing more consumers and increasing profits, as opposed to building long-lasting relationships. AI shouldn't only be focused on the business' bottom line. In fact, a recent AI and empathy survey by our company of 6,000 consumers from North America, the United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, Germany, and France found that 69% of consumers think businesses have a moral obligation to do what's right for the consumer, beyond what is legally required.

Roundup Hello, here's a short but sweet round up of news from the world of machine learning beyond what we have already covered on El Reg. Microsoft funded an AI startup that spies on Palestinians: Microsoft invested in AnyVision, a company that supports a secret Israeli military project that surveils Palestinians travelling within the West Bank. Palestinians living in the contentious region occupied by Israel can only travel via designated checkpoints. The Israeli government also tracks their movements using CCTV cameras as they walk throughout eastern Jerusalem. The military project, supposedly codenamed "Google Ayosh," was carried out to search for specific people by matching the faces spotted on the cameras to a known database, according to NBC News.

For this reason, organisations like Expedia are looking at using AI to support customer service first. Enabling deeper and richer interactions with end customers is an area where AI can add real value. For example, routine calls into a contact centre can be largely automated (for example, confirming a flight), but more complex engagements will still be handled by agents, supported by smarter systems. AI frees up customer service agents to become the experts, working alongside the machines to not only solve your problem, but also make suggestions to improve service – like finding the best restaurant or experience for the location you are visiting.