Objective 2.4 Identify Ethical Challenges That May Conflict or Require Compromise with Regulatory And/or Business Constraints or Demands CERTIFIED-ETHICAL-EMERGING-TECHNOLOGIST Practice Questions (Page 7)

Questions 31–35

1. 31expert · hard

   A ride-sharing company optimizes its dispatch algorithm to minimize passenger wait times by 15%. The optimization achieves this by systematically assigning fewer drivers to low-income neighborhoods and more drivers to high-income areas, where demand is denser and trips are longer. The company's leadership is pleased with the efficiency gain. What is the most appropriate ethical response?

   • AModify the objective function to include a fairness constraint that guarantees a minimum level of service to all neighborhoods, then re-optimize.
   • BAccept the efficiency gain because the algorithm is optimizing for a legitimate business metric.
   • CKeep the algorithm but add a disclaimer in the app that service levels vary by area.
   • DRevert to the previous algorithm because any reduction in service to low-income areas is unacceptable.
   Reveal Solution Discussion Select an answer first
2. 32application · medium

   A news aggregator app uses AI to personalize the content feed for each user. The algorithm learns user preferences and increasingly filters out opposing viewpoints, creating a 'filter bubble'. The company's engagement metrics have improved significantly. However, users are becoming more polarized and less informed about opposing perspectives. What design change best preserves user autonomy while maintaining engagement?

   • AAutomatically insert opposing viewpoints into every user's feed without any user control.
   • BAdd a 'diverse perspectives' toggle that users can enable to see content from opposing viewpoints.
   • CContinue the current approach because engagement is the primary business metric.
   • DRemove personalization entirely and show the same feed to all users.
   Reveal Solution Discussion Select an answer first
4. 33foundation · easy

   A healthcare startup wants to build a predictive model for patient readmission. The data science team requests access to years of full patient records, including sensitive details not directly related to the prediction task. The compliance officer insists on collecting only the minimum fields needed. What is the core ethical tension in this scenario?

   • AThe tension between the legal requirement to delete data and the business need to retain it for audits
   • BThe tension between data minimization and the potential loss of data utility for model accuracy
   • CThe tension between the cost of data storage and the need for real-time data processing
   • DThe tension between the need for data accuracy and the risk of biased data collection
   Reveal Solution Discussion Select an answer first
5. 34application · medium

   A mid-sized fintech company must comply with a new data protection regulation that requires annual third-party audits, enhanced encryption, and a dedicated privacy officer. The compliance cost is estimated at $500,000 per year, which would consume 20% of the company's net profit. The CEO is considering shutting down the product line to avoid the cost. What is the most balanced response?

   • APhase in compliance over two years, starting with the highest-risk data flows and negotiating audit frequency with the regulator.
   • BShut down the product line because the compliance cost is too high relative to profit.
   • CIgnore the regulation and hope the regulator does not enforce it, given the company's small size.
   • DPass the entire compliance cost to customers through higher fees.
   Reveal Solution Discussion Select an answer first
6. 35foundation · easy

   Which of the following is a potential compromise strategy to balance the democratization of AI with the risk of misuse?

   • AKeeping the model completely proprietary to prevent any misuse
   • BReleasing the model only to vetted researchers and organizations under a license that restricts harmful uses
   • CDelaying the release until regulations are in place
   • DReleasing the model without any restrictions to maximize accessibility
   Reveal Solution Discussion Select an answer first