The value of applied ethics in engineering studies in a horizon of reliable artificial intelligence

Abstract

Political institutions such as the European Commission and the Government of Spain have expressed their interest and willingness to lay the foundations for ethical governance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). In particular, they have proposed the promotion of reliable Artificial Intelligence through a set of guidelines and strategies. Despite the benefit provided by these political initiatives, it is not possible to fully appreciate a specific educational strategy that contributes to the generation of an ethical AI ecosystem based on trust. In this sense, the main objective of this work is to demonstrate that the teaching of applied ethics in engineering studies constitutes a commitment to professional strengthening, ethical governance and responsible research and innovation. To achieve this objective, first of all, some of the essential aspects that give significant value to the teaching of applied ethics will be detailed, highlighting the social responsibility that universities present in this field. Secondly, a classification of ethics subjects related to engineering in the environment of Spanish public universities will be shown. And, thirdly, a theoretical framework rooted in discursive ethics will be offered, promoting a civic perspective in the educational context of the professions.