Ethics and Deontology in Decision-Making by Intelligent Machines: Challenges, Frameworks and Human-Centric Approaches

The rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and autonomous intelligent systems is transforming the way decisions are made across critical sectors such as defense, healthcare, transportation, finance, and public administration. Intelligent machines are increasingly capable of processing vast amounts of data, identifying patterns, and making complex decisions with minimal human intervention. However, this technological evolution raises significant ethical and deontological concerns regarding accountability, transparency, fairness, human oversight, and moral responsibility.

This presentation examines the ethical and deontological dimensions of decision-making by intelligent machines, focusing on the challenges emerging from the growing autonomy of AI-driven systems. Particular emphasis is placed on issues such as algorithmic bias, explainability, responsibility attribution, compliance with legal and societal norms, and the preservation of human values in automated decision processes. The study also explores the tension between operational efficiency and ethical accountability, especially in high-risk environments where AI systems may influence or directly execute critical actions.