Why Should We Build Artificial People? Moral Issues of Designing Machines with Full Moral Standing

Abstract

In this article I intend to argue that the possible production of increasingly intelligent machines deserving full moral relevance (which we should, therefore, consider as ‘artificial persons’) may be less desirable and approvable than it might at first glance seem. It is no contradiction to state that in the future intelligent machines can peacefully coexist with humans in technologically advanced societies. On the contrary, we can imagine that these machines could tomorrow become a most important resource for human beings and enable them to accomplish achievements in any field that they would never otherwise have been able to. However, for what reason should we choose to bring an intelligent machine into the world? If it is a person, we cannot exploit it. Moreover, we must consider that intelligent machines could put our survival at risk. After all, if one day we are able to create intelligent machines that possess moral relevance comparable to people’s, it might seem morally preferable and more desirable to produce artificial people rather than generate human beings. It is also possible that intelligent machines might treat human beings with respect, striving to promote their welfare and not causing them any harm. Nevertheless, they might also have a completely different attitude toward us and consider our elimination a worthy goal. Our conclusion is that if we cannot hope to influence intelligent machines positively and control the formation of their moral values through education, then we may have no other way and should prevent machines from becoming people.