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Ethical implications of text generation in the age of artificial intelligence

Author

Listed:
  • Laura Illia
  • Elanor Colleoni
  • Stelios Zyglidopoulos

Abstract

We are at a turning point in the debate on the ethics of Artificial Intelligence (AI) because we are witnessing the rise of general‐purpose AI text agents such as GPT‐3 that can generate large‐scale highly refined content that appears to have been written by a human. Yet, a discussion on the ethical issues related to the blurring of the roles between humans and machines in the production of content in the business arena is lacking. In this conceptual paper, drawing on agenda setting theory and stakeholder theory, we challenge the current debate on the ethics of AI and aim to stimulate studies that develop research around three new challenges of AI text agents: automated mass manipulation and disinformation (i.e., fake agenda problem), massive low‐quality content production (i.e., lowest denominator problem) and the creation of a growing buffer in the communication between stakeholders (i.e., the mediation problem).

Suggested Citation

  • Laura Illia & Elanor Colleoni & Stelios Zyglidopoulos, 2023. "Ethical implications of text generation in the age of artificial intelligence," Business Ethics, the Environment & Responsibility, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(1), pages 201-210, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:buseth:v:32:y:2023:i:1:p:201-210
    DOI: 10.1111/beer.12479
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    4. Reyes Calderon & Francisco Herrera, 2025. "And Plato met ChatGPT: an ethical reflection on the use of chatbots in scientific research writing, with a particular focus on the social sciences," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 12(1), pages 1-13, December.

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