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Ethical Challenges in Artificial Intelligence: An Analysis Considering the Asilomar AI Principles with a Focus on Sustainability

In: Advances and New Trends in Environmental Informatics

Author

Listed:
  • Martina Willenbacher

    (University of Applied Sciences Berlin, Industrial Environmental Informatics Unit, Department Engineering-Technology and Life, Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft Berlin (HTW))

  • Volker Wohlgemuth

    (University of Applied Sciences, HTW Berlin)

Abstract

This paper examines the ethical challenges of artificial intelligence (AI) with a focus on sustainability, analyzed through the lens of the Asilomar AI Principles. It explores the dual role of AI as both a contributor to environmental degradation—through high energy consumption, carbon emissions, and e-waste—and a potential tool for addressing sustainability challenges, such as optimizing renewable energy or improving agricultural efficiency. The Asilomar AI Principles, established in 2017, provide a foundational ethical framework but lack explicit reference to environmental sustainability, revealing a critical gap in addressing AI’s ecological footprint. The paper critiques the principles’ vagueness and limited enforceability, particularly regarding sustainability, and proposes integrating environmental considerations into AI ethics. It discusses policy measures like energy caps and transparency requirements, alongside technological innovations such as energy-efficient algorithms and hardware recycling, to promote sustainable AI. Global cooperation is emphasized as essential for aligning AI development with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The analysis underscores the need for a holistic approach combining ethics, innovation, and regulation to ensure AI contributes to a sustainable future.

Suggested Citation

  • Martina Willenbacher & Volker Wohlgemuth, 2026. "Ethical Challenges in Artificial Intelligence: An Analysis Considering the Asilomar AI Principles with a Focus on Sustainability," Progress in IS, in: Volker Wohlgemuth & Stefan Naumann & Grit Behrens & Anna Zagorski & Maximilian Höb (ed.), Advances and New Trends in Environmental Informatics, pages 75-90, Springer.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:prochp:978-3-032-22726-3_5
    DOI: 10.1007/978-3-032-22726-3_5
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