The Trolley Problem

Suggested time: 15 min

To start off our journey into AI ethics, we will watch and then discuss a popular example from moral philosophy called the “Trolley Problem.” As you watch the video, note any observations, questions, or comments you may have.

Watch (5 min)

Watch the TEDx video “Would you sacrifice one person to save five?“ (4:55)

Discuss (10 min)

Return to the full group to share your results from the activity:

• Do you have any burning thoughts or questions about what we just watched?
• What moral dilemmas does the trolley problem conjure up? What other technologies might raise similar moral dilemmas as self-driving cars?
• How could these moral dilemmas be solved?

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