THE FUTURE: Technologies of the future

THE FUTURE: Technologies of the future

Experimental modelling of biological functions (organoïdes)

Organoids are three-dimensional structures grown from pluripotent stem cells derived from human tissue. They serve as in vitro miniature models of human organs and have the potential to revolutionize biomedical research and clinical care. However, organoids also raise several ethical concerns, including the definition of their moral status. Are organoids simply collections of cells, or do they have some of the same moral status as human beings?
Furthermore, as organoids are grown from human pluripotent stem cells, it is important to obtain informed consent from the person who donated the cells: what is the scope of this consent and how will the donor's privacy be protected?
Neuronal organoids are a specific type of organoids associated with additional concern. For example, the question of whether neuronal organoids can become conscious is a complex one that is still being debated, even if there is no clear consensus on the definition of consciousness.
The development of new technologies has made it possible to modify organoids genetically. In addition, researchers are beginning to explore the possibility of creating human-animal chimaeras, organisms that contain human and animal cells. Organoids could also be misused, for example, to create designer babies. All these (potential) uses require ethics discussion and safeguards to prevent the misuse of organoids as well as their deregulated exploitation.
 

Artificial intelligence & Ethics

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly evolving and has the potential to revolutionize many aspects of our lives, from the way we work to the way we interact with the world around us. However, as with any powerful technology, AI raises several ethical concerns.
One of the most important ethical aspects of AI is transparency. A lack of transparency can lead to discrimination and unfair treatment. Another significant ethical concern is the perpetuation and amplification of existing biases, which leads to increasing discrimination against certain groups of people, such as women, people of colour, or people with disabilities. Bias in AI can also harm democracy by reinforcing stereotypes and creating a more fragmented society. In addition, AI systems could make mistakes that could have serious consequences, especially if made in a critical decision-making context such as health care. Finally, AI systems becoming autonomous, they could be used without human intervention, which could have devastating consequences. It is important to have safeguards to prevent mistakes and deregulated uses as well to develop policies to mitigate the adverse effects of AI on employment, such as investments in education and training for workers at risk of being displaced by AI.

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