MIT AI Risk Repository · Risk Category · 06.12.00
Loss of Autonomy
Description
"Delegating decisions to an AI, especially an AI that is not transparent and not contestable, may leave people feeling helpless, subjected to the decision power of a machine."
From A framework for ethical Ai at the United Nations (Hogenhout2021), as extracted by the MIT AI Risk Repository (CC BY 4.0).
Classification
- Causal entity
- Human
- Intent
- Intentional
- Timing
- Post-deployment
Subdomain definition: Humans delegating key decisions to AI systems, or AI systems making decisions that diminish human control and autonomy, potentially leading to humans feeling disempowered, losing the ability to shape a fulfilling life trajectory or becoming cognitively enfeebled.
Real-world incidents in this subdomain
- DisMech AI Curation Agent Reportedly Completed GitHub Issue Intended as New Contributor's Learning Task
- Waymo Driverless Taxi Allegedly Stalled During Pedestrian Harassment Incident in San Francisco
- California Police Turned on Music to Allegedly Trigger Instagram’s DCMA to Avoid Being Live-Streamed
- Hawaii Police Deployed Robot Dog to Patrol a Homeless Encampment