Artificial Intelligence and Ethics – Examining the Moral Implications of AI Advancements by Lukas Engelbrecht

Author:Lukas Engelbrecht
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Artificial Intelligence ethics, ethical AI, AI morality, machine learning bias, facial recognition ethics, AI and society, data privacy
Publisher: Lukas Engelbrecht
Published: 2025-10-03T00:00:00+00:00

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Final Thoughts.

Ethical data use comes down to one thing: respect. Respect for people’s time, choices, and privacy.

Just because a company can do something with your data doesn’t mean it’s right. And if they wouldn’t say what they’re doing out loud to your face, they probably shouldn’t be doing it.

This isn’t just about tech. It’s about trust. It’s about power. And it’s about the kind of world we want to live in.

We need to draw the line. And we need to do it now—while we still can.

Section 4: Autonomy vs. Manipulation.

Let me start with something personal.

A few months ago, I searched online for a new pair of walking shoes. That same day, ads for shoes started popping up everywhere—on my phone, on websites, even on my social media feed. I didn’t tell anyone about the search. But something was watching. And it knew exactly how to get my attention.

That moment felt small, but it raised a big question: am I making my own choices, or is something shaping them without me knowing?

This is what we’re diving into—autonomy vs. manipulation.

What Is Autonomy?

Autonomy means making your own choices. It means thinking clearly, deciding freely, and acting on your own goals—not someone else's.

You might choose what to eat, what to wear, or who to vote for. When that choice is truly yours, you're acting with autonomy.

Now here’s the problem: if a system is designed to guide your choices in ways you don’t notice, are you really free?

What Is Manipulation?

Manipulation hides the truth. It steers your thoughts or feelings in a direction without your clear awareness.

It's not always evil. But it’s always sneaky.

Let’s say a news feed shows you only one side of a story. Or an app nudges you to keep scrolling, even when you meant to stop. Or a voice assistant responds in a way that pushes you toward buying something.

These actions shape your behavior. You don’t see it. But it’s happening.

That’s manipulation.

How AI Does It.

AI systems learn patterns in your behavior. They watch what you click, how long you stay, and what you ignore.

They don’t do this because they “care” about you. They do it because they’re built to grab your attention—and hold it.

AI doesn’t need to know your name. It just needs your data. The more data it gets, the better it gets at guessing what you’ll do next.

This can feel helpful. A good movie suggestion or a playlist you love? No problem.

But when AI uses what it knows about you to push you toward a decision—without you realizing—that’s a red flag.

Real-World Example: Political Ads.

During elections, political campaigns use AI to target voters. They break people into groups. They send different messages to each group—based on fears, likes, or habits.

One person may see ads that paint a candidate as a hero. Another might see the same candidate shown as a threat.

It’s legal. It’s common. But it’s also manipulation.

People vote based on feelings stirred up by data-fed messages. Often, they don’t even know it’s happening.

That’s a threat to autonomy.

Another Example: Shopping Online.

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