Read the passage and answer the questions:
As artificial intelligence (Al) technologies continue to proliferate across every sector of human activity, the ethical implications of their deployment have become a matter of urgent concern. Once relegated to the realm of speculative fiction, Al now permeates decision-making in fields as diverse as healthcare, finance, education, and criminal justice. While proponents argue that Al can increase efficiency, reduce human bias, and democratize access to services, critics warn of the potential for algorithmic discrimination, erosion of privacy, and the deepening of existing social inequalities.
At the heart of the debate lies a fundamental tension between technolagical progress and moral responsibility. Machines, no matter how sophisticated, lack consciousness and intrinsic values; they merely execute instructions based on data inputs and programmed algorithms. Thus, when an Al system makes a life-altering decision—such as denying a loan application or predicting a defendant's likelihood of reoffending—it is not the machine itself that is accountable, but the human architects behind its creation and training.
Moreover, the opacity of many Al systems, often referred to as the "black box" problem, poses a significant ethical challenge. When even developers cannot fully explain how a machine arrived at a given outcome, the prospect of ensuring fairness, transparency, and accountability becomes deeply problematic. Addressing these concerns will require not only technical innovations, such as explainable Al, but also rigorous interdisciplinary collaboration between engineers, ethicists, policymakers, and the public.
According to the passage, what is one major obstacle to ensuring fairness and accountability in Al systems?
- AOption (a)
The high cost of building Al models.
- BOption (b)
The limited availability of data scientists.
- COption (c)
The inability to fully explain how Al systems reach conclusions.
- DOption (d)
The lack of government funding.
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Correct answer
The inability to fully explain how Al systems reach conclusions.
Why this answer is correct
The correct answer is Option 3.
Key Points
- The passage highlights the "black box" problem in AI systems.
- This refers to the inability to fully explain how AI systems reach their conclusions, even by developers.
- Such opacity makes it difficult to ensure fairness, accountability, and transparency.
- Hence, the major obstacle is clearly connected to the lack of explainability in AI systems.
Therefore, the correct answer is Option 3.
Additional Information
- Option 1: "The high cost of building AI models" – Not mentioned as the central problem in the passage.
- Option 2: "The limited availability of data scientists" – The passage does not discuss this issue.
- Option 4: "The lack of government funding" – No reference is made to funding as the obstacle.