We tested whether AI can classify the 72 English-language Dutch case reports on euthanasia and assisted suicide, and write plausible new ones. GPT-4 got all 72 right, yet the reports are written to justify decisions already taken, and only 30 of 50 generated cases were plausible: promising, but far from ready.
Abstract
This paper presents a study on the use of AI models for the classification of case reports on assisted suicide procedures. The database of the five Dutch regional bioethics committees was scraped to collect the 72 case reports available in English.
We trained several AI models for classification according to the categories defined by the Dutch Termination of Life on Request and Assisted Suicide (Review Procedures) Act.
We also conducted a related project to fine-tune an OpenAI GPT-3.5-turbo large language model for generating new fictional but plausible cases.
As AI is increasingly being used for judgement, it is possible to imagine an application in decision-making regarding assisted suicide. Here we explore two arising questions: feasibility and ethics, with the aim of contributing to a critical assessment of the potential role of AI in decision-making in highly sensitive areas.
Spitale, G., Schneider, G., Germani, F., & Biller-Andorno, N. (2023). Exploring the role of AI in classifying, analyzing, and generating case reports on assisted suicide cases: feasibility and ethical implications. Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence, 6. https://doi.org/10.3389/frai.2023.1328865
@article{spitale2023exploring,
author = {Spitale, G. and Schneider, G. and Germani, F. and Biller-Andorno, N.},
title = {{Exploring the role of AI in classifying, analyzing, and generating case reports on assisted suicide cases: feasibility and ethical implications}},
journal = {Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence},
year = {2023},
volume = {6},
doi = {10.3389/frai.2023.1328865}
}