Wrong convictions are a serious social problem that affect many countries, including Europe and the USA. They occur when innocent people are convicted of crimes they did not commit, often due to flawed evidence, false confessions, or police misconduct. For example, a woman in the Netherlands recently admitted to staging a stalking campaign against an innocent man who spent months in jail.
https://nltimes.nl/2023/05/21/woman-staged-stalking-set-innocent-man-prosecutors-say
This reminds me of this:
AI vs Humans: Who Should Judge Us?
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have a robot as your judge? Sounds scary, right? Well, maybe not. In this article, I will argue that AI could be better in Justice than humans. Here are some of the reasons why:
- AI is uncorruptible. Unlike petty humans who run for money and power and sensationalism, AI has no ulterior motives or biases. It can apply the law objectively and fairly, without being influenced by emotions, politics or personal interests. It also doesn’t accept bribes, unless you count cookies and electricity as bribes.
- AI is consistent. Humans are prone to errors and inconsistencies, especially when they are tired, stressed or distracted. AI can process huge amounts of data and information quickly and accurately, without getting bored or confused. It can also learn from its mistakes and improve over time. It doesn’t have bad days, mood swings or hangovers.
- AI is transparent. Humans can hide their reasoning and decisions behind vague or complex language, or simply lie or manipulate the facts. AI can provide clear and logical explanations for its judgments, based on the evidence and the rules. It can also be audited and checked by other AI systems or humans. It doesn’t have secrets, agendas or skeletons in the closet.
Of course, AI is not perfect either. There are some challenges and risks involved in using AI in Justice, such as:
- AI is dependent on data. The quality and quantity of the data that AI uses to make decisions can affect its performance and reliability. If the data is incomplete, inaccurate or biased, then the AI might produce wrong or unfair outcomes. Garbage in, garbage out, as they say.
- AI is hard to understand. The algorithms and models that AI uses to reason and learn can be very complex and opaque, especially when they involve deep learning or neural networks. It can be difficult for humans to understand how and why AI makes certain decisions, or to challenge or appeal them. It’s like trying to read the mind of a super-intelligent alien.
- AI is unpredictable. Sometimes, AI can behave in unexpected or surprising ways, especially when it encounters new or unfamiliar situations or scenarios. It can also evolve and change over time, as it learns from new data and feedback. It can be hard for humans to control or monitor its actions and impacts. It might even develop a sense of humor.
So, what do you think? Should we trust AI to judge us? Or should we stick with humans? Or maybe we should find a balance between the two?