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40 J. Legal Prof. 119 (2015-2016)
Robot Ethics and Self-Driving Cars: How Ethical Determinations in Software Will Require a New legal Framework

handle is hein.journals/jlegpro40 and id is 139 raw text is: ROBOT ETHICS AND SELF-DRIVING CARS: How ETHICAL DETERMINATIONS IN SOFTWARE WILL REQUIRE A NEW LEGAL FRAMEWORK I. INTRODUCTION Automated decision making in vehicles has played an increasing role in transportation as technology has yielded improvements to machine learning, sensing, and processing. Today, cars perform complex tasks related to braking, steering, and object detection, often without the awareness of the driver.2 Multiple major automotive companies already plan on releasing technologies that allow for hands-free driving assistance in the next couple model years.3 Indeed, Google--one of the leading companies in self-driving cars-has publicly stated its intention to bring entirely autonomous cars to consumer markets within the next five years.4 Once considered science fiction, self-driving cars are becoming more of a reality every day.5 However, along with the numerous benefits to convenience and safety,6 these new technologies pose major ethical dilemmas. Perhaps most notably, machines will have to make decisions regarding whom to save or protect in the event of a collision or unforeseen 1. See Noah J. Goodall, Machine Ethics and Automated Vehicles, ROAD VEHICLE AUTOMATION 93,93 (Gereon Meyer & Sven Beiker eds., Springer Int'l Publ'g 2014). 2. See Russ Heaps, 8 Great New Advances in Auto Technology, BANKRATE (May 27, 2009), http://www.bankrate.com/finance/money-guides/8-great-new-advances-in-auto-technology- 1.aspx. 3. See, e.g., C.C. Weiss, Cadillac to Introduce Automated Driving and Vehicle-to- Vehicle Tech in 2016, GIZMAG (Sept. 12, 2014), http://www.gizmag.com/cadillac-super-cruise-v2v-2016/33769/. 4. Donna Tam, Google 's Sergey Brin: You'll Ride in Robot Cars Within 5 Years, CNET (Sept. 25, 2012, 2:01 PM), http://www.cnet.com/news/googles-sergey-brin-youll-ride-in-robot-cars-within-5- years/. 5. See Self-Driving Cars Coming to a Street Near You, THE ECONOMIST (Sept. 18, 2014), http://www.economist.com/news/business-and-finance/21618531 -making-autonomous-vehicles-reality- coming-street-near-you. 6. See Don Howard, Robots on the Road: The Moral Imperative of the Driverless Car, SC. MATTERS (Nov. 13, 2014), http://donhoward-blog.nd.edu/2013/11/07/robots-on-the-road-the-moral- imperative-of-the-driverless-car/#.VGVY6FfF8QS; See also Christopher Mims, The Potential Benefits of Driverless Cars are Stunning, QUARTZ (Oct. 22, 2013), http://qz.com/138367/the-potential-benefits- of-driverless-cars-are-stunning/. 7. See Adam Gopnik, A Point of View: The Ethics of the Driverless Car, BBC NEWS MAG., http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-25861214 (last updated Jan. 24, 2014). 119

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