Real World AI Ethics: Practical Case Studies

This comprehensive text examines the ethical implications of artificial intelligence and big data, particularly for data scientists, emphasizing the significant power and responsibility they wield. The book presents seven real-world case studies illustrating data misuse, ranging from research manipulation and user data abuse to facial recognition in conflict zones and the impact of AI on animal welfare. Each case is analyzed through diverse ethical lenses, including Western approaches like consequentialism, deontology, and virtue ethics, alongside non-Western perspectives such as Buddhist, Muslim, Indigenous, and African ethics, to provide a holistic and globally-informed understanding of responsible AI development and deployment. The material also details various aspects of machine learning, data science, and research methodologies, highlighting issues like algorithmic bias, synthetic media, and mental malware, while advocating for a culture of ethical rigor, transparency, and accountability within the rapidly evolving field.