A new study indicates that in a modified moral Turing test, individuals rated AI-generated responses to ethical questions as more moral and virtuous than those from human counterparts.
Main Points:
- Researchers conducted a modified Turing test where participants compared anonymous answers to moral questions provided by AI and humans, mistakenly believing both were from humans.
- The study, led by Eyal Aharoni from Georgia State University, found that responses generated by AI were consistently rated higher in terms of morality, virtuousness, and trustworthiness.
- This phenomenon could influence future interactions with AI, increasing reliance on technology for moral and ethical guidance.
Summary:
The study, titled “Attributions Toward Artificial Agents in a Modified Moral Turing Test,” explored how people perceive the morality of AI compared to humans. Conducted by Eyal Aharoni at Georgia State University, the research was inspired by the growing integration of AI in various decision-making processes, including the legal system. Participants were unknowingly presented with answers to ethical questions from both humans and AI but were led to believe all responses were human-generated. The results showed a significant preference for the AI-generated answers, which were deemed more moral and trustworthy.
This surprising outcome not only challenges previous assumptions about AI’s inferiority in moral reasoning but also suggests a potential shift in future human-AI interactions. As AI responses were favored over human ones, it raises questions about our increasing dependence on technology for ethical guidance. The study’s findings were published in the journal Scientific Reports, indicating a need to better understand the implications of these interactions on societal trust and decision-making processes.
Source: Turing test study shows humans rate artificial intelligence as more ‘moral’ than other people
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