Whakataukī | Proverb
"He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tāngata, he tāngata, he tāngata"
What is the most important thing in the world? It is people, it is people, it is people.
As AI becomes more powerful, we must remember this wisdom: technology should serve people, not replace human judgment and care. AI ethics asks critical questions about fairness, bias, privacy, and power. Who benefits from AI? Who is harmed? How can we ensure technology upholds human dignity and tikanga values? These scenarios help you practice ethical thinking!
🤖 AI Ethics Scenarios
Unit 7: Critical Decision Making in the Age of AI
📋 Learning Objectives:
- Analyze ethical dilemmas in AI and technology
- Identify bias, fairness, and justice issues
- Apply tikanga and ethical frameworks
- Make thoughtful decisions about technology use
🧭 Ethical Questions to Ask
Does this technology help everyone equally, or does it advantage some while disadvantaging others?
Does the AI treat different groups fairly? Does it reflect existing inequalities?
Who owns the data? Is consent freely given? Is privacy protected?
If something goes wrong, who is responsible? Can decisions be explained and challenged?
Does this honor manaakitanga (care), kaitiakitanga (guardianship), and tino rangatiratanga (self-determination)?
Your school wants to install facial recognition cameras at all entrances to "improve security." The AI would track who enters/exits, flag "suspicious behavior," and create a database of student movements. The principal says it will reduce bullying and theft. Some students feel safer; others feel surveilled and uncomfortable.
🤔 Consider:
- How might this system be biased? (Research shows facial recognition is less accurate for Māori and Pasifika faces)
- What privacy rights do students have?
- Who has access to this data? For how long?
- Could this normalize constant surveillance?
Your Decision: Should the school install this system? Why/why not?
Alternative Solution:
A major NZ company uses AI to screen job applications. The AI was trained on 10 years of past hiring data to identify "successful employees." After 6 months, a study finds the AI systematically rejects applications from people with Māori names, women with children, and people from low-income areas - even when their qualifications are identical to accepted candidates.
🤔 Consider:
- Why did the AI learn these biases? (Hint: Past hiring was biased!)
- Is this discrimination legal? Ethical?
- Who is responsible - the company, the AI developers, or both?
- How could this perpetuate inequality?
Your Decision: What should the company do?
How could AI hiring be made fair?
You discover a free AI tool that can create incredibly realistic fake videos (deepfakes) of anyone saying anything. Some students use it to create funny memes. Others use it to create fake videos of classmates doing embarrassing things or saying offensive statements. The fakes are so good, people can't tell they're not real.
🤔 Consider:
- What harm could this cause? (Reputation, bullying, trust in information)
- Should this technology be freely available?
- How does this relate to manaakitanga (caring for others)?
- What if it's used on public figures? Is that different?
Your Decision: Would YOU use this tool? Under what conditions (if any)?
How should deepfakes be regulated?
💭 Final Reflection
1. What ethical principles should guide AI development in Aotearoa?
2. How can tikanga values help us make ethical choices about technology?
3. What's ONE action YOU can take to use technology more ethically?
🌟 Extension Challenge
Create Your Own Scenario: Write a new AI ethics dilemma based on current technology. Share with classmates and discuss possible responses!
Your Scenario: