Editing Magnifica Humanitas: A Plain-Language Overview (section)

== Somebody remains responsible ==

A recurrent temptation with complicated technology is to say:

<blockquote>
“The computer decided.”
</blockquote>

Leo rejects that escape.

When an automated system affects someone's employment, reputation, credit, opportunities, access to services, safety, or freedom, a human moral responsibility remains.

An algorithm cannot absolve the people and institutions that designed, selected, deployed, or relied upon it.

The greater the consequences, the greater the need for accountability, transparency, and meaningful human judgment.<ref name="MHAI" />

This is particularly important when a system appears neutral.

Algorithms are created, trained, selected, configured, and deployed by human beings and institutions. They may reproduce assumptions, priorities, errors, and biases even when nobody explicitly programmed an instruction to discriminate.

“AI said so” is therefore not an adequate moral explanation.