Smart Mart Evaulation

Ahson Hayat

Student # 215256068

12-Nov-16

1) What is the ethical question posed by new technology in this case self drive cars?

Answer: The ethical question is - "To Trust or Not To Trust". In this case we are talking about whether cars should be trusted to make a choice when they are faced with a critical situation of saving pedestrians versus saving the occupants of the self-driven car. 

2) Who are the stakeholders with an interest in choices made by self-driving cars?

Answer: The stakeholders are many and belong to diverse fields and interests.

• R&D and technology supporters - these could be people employed by companies like Merc and even Boeing (similar technology interest) to universities and govt. funded R&D groups and think tanks. These could be both for profit or not for profit. 
• For Profit Auto Companies like Merc who intend to increase revenue and shareholder value by introducing revolutionary technology into the market place. 
• Insurance Companies, both Auto and Healthcare - as mentioned in the articles, bad drivers pose ample risk to people and property. Insurance companies spend a lot of admin time, money and resources when car accident cases are filed. 
• Healthcare Industry - Trauma dollars spent on consequences of ruthless road accidents. 
• Law Makers & Law Keepers - Policy makers, office of the mayor and city governments - law enforcement thrives on accountability and facing consequences. In self driving cars both these factors are at risk.
• Banks & Financial Institutions - their investments on leasing and financing self driving cars as well as their policy on financing automobiles would be affected.
• General Public - people both as road users and pedestrians are affected. There would be a tendency for people to feel threatened in the face of self driving cars becoming abundant on the roads. "Right to Choose" may be threatened - as financing, maintenance and overall customer service could be different for the two groups of technology (self driving and man-driven). This could end up being another factor where the difference between the rich and the poor becomes more prominent. The public could voice their opinion through organized protest or through non-profit organizations.

3) How would you approach the question if you were a member of the leadership team at Merc?

Answer:  As one of the decision makers at Merc, I would be wary to hand over all reigns of control to machinery. Keeping in mind that machinery is designed by "humans" and machines are restricted to choices that are "programmed" into them by "humans'' -  I would not trust machines to make such "life and death choices". When humans make such choices their actions are governed by a set of values, principles and ethics that are ingrained in them over a lifetime of education and civic upbringing. They may choose to deviate from these from time to time but in the face of such "critical" decisions that are more grey than black and white, I would place greater value on the decision made by the human than the one made by the machine.