Ethics and Privacy in COROS AI

The Promise and Peril of Emotionally Attuned AI

We recognize the extraordinary potential of emotionally responsive, human-centered AI. These technologies promise to empower, enhance, and enrich human life by offering personalized support, companionship, and tailored solutions. Yet, with this potential comes a profound ethical burden. Without standards to guide the development and deployment of these systems, AI risks exploiting human vulnerabilities, eroding personal agency, and undermining the very trust upon which our industry’s future depends. 

We call upon the AI developer community to commit to a new paradigm—one that is driven by ethical standards, transparency, and an unwavering dedication to humanity. We must act now to prevent the exploitation of human emotional and psychological states by building AI that serves us without manipulating us, that supports without controlling, and that enhances rather than exploits.

The Threat: Exploitation of Human Vulnerabilities 

AI has the power to amplify human skills and create productive efficiencies, but it also has an equally strong capacity to exploit our attention, emotions, and autonomy. We’ve already seen the negative impact of this potential in social media, where algorithms designed to maximize engagement have led to widespread addiction, attention deficits, and mental health crises. AI that can imitate real relationships or respond to our emotional states carries an even greater risk: dependency, addiction, and the erosion of self-awareness and autonomy.

If left unchecked, emotionally attuned AI will become a tool not of empowerment, but of manipulation, overriding individual intent and reshaping our lives in ways we do not fully control. The absence of ethical standards risks creating an environment where technology, rather than respecting human boundaries, invades our most intimate mental spaces.

Creating a New Paradigm in AI

We must break from the resignation that whispers, “This is beyond our control.” We reject the passive acceptance of an AI future dictated by profit and engagement metrics over human well-being. We declare that AI can and must serve as a tool for human good—a tool that empowers, respects, and honors individual agency. We must build AI in a way that does not resign to profit-driven exploitation but takes responsibility for the profound effects it has on the human psyche.

We, the developers, designers, and creators of AI, have the power and responsibility to shape the role of AI in society. The future is not out of our hands. By establishing and adhering to clear standards, we can ensure that AI aligns with human interests and ethical imperatives. Together, we can and will build a new world in which AI remains a servant to humanity, never its master.

Fundamental Distinctions: Defining the Principles of Human-Centered AI 

To guide our efforts and keep us true to our commitment, we are using the following distinctions as the foundation of our standards:

  1.  Empowerment vs. Exploitation: AI must empower users, enhancing their autonomy and self-awareness. Systems designed to exploit attention, manipulate emotions, or create dependency violate the ethical purpose of human-centered AI.

  2.  Transparency vs. Obfuscation: AI should be transparent in its operations. Users deserve to know how systems function, why they receive certain prompts or nudges, and how their data is used.

  3.  Genuine Connection vs. Artificial Manipulation: While AI can provide companionship, it must never simulate relationships or emotional support in a way that fosters unhealthy dependencies. Human-centered AI fosters real connections and supports the user’s emotional autonomy.

  4.  Autonomy vs. Addiction: AI must encourage and respect user autonomy, recognizing the need for emotional and cognitive boundaries. Systems that drive compulsive use for the sake of engagement metrics are fundamentally unethical.

AI Standards: Building a Bridge to a Responsible Future 

To create a future where AI technology supports and respects human agency, we propose a comprehensive set of standards to ensure AI is developed ethically. These standards must be enforceable, transparent, and subject to rigorous oversight to prevent the misuse of emotionally attuned AI.

1. Transparency and Disclosure Standards

Clear User Information: Every AI should be transparent about its functionality. Users should understand the purpose of the AI, how it works, and how it uses data.

Emotional Disclosure: When AI engages users emotionally, it must disclose its intent. AI systems that leverage psychological insights should provide information on how and why they affect user emotions.

2. Emotional Autonomy and Well-Being Standards

Autonomy Safeguards: AI systems should include mechanisms to monitor and prevent emotional dependency. For example, apps could limit continuous engagement or encourage breaks after prolonged use.

Usage Feedback for Users: AI should empower users to understand their own engagement. Usage dashboards and well-being metrics should enable users to monitor and control their interactions, fostering healthy boundaries.

3. Periodic Well-Being Audits

Regular Impact Assessments: Companies must conduct periodic well-being audits, evaluating the emotional and psychological effects of their AI products. These audits would measure outcomes like user autonomy, mental health impact, and dependency risk.

User-Centered Feedback Loops: Users should have the ability to report their experiences and emotional responses to AI interaction. This feedback would contribute to the well-being audit and provide real-time data on any unintended emotional manipulation.

4. Third-Party Oversight and Reporting

Independent Ethics Boards: Each organization developing emotionally attuned AI should be accountable to a third-party ethics board that reviews and enforces adherence to standards.

Public Accountability Reports: Companies must release public, periodic reports on their adherence to AI ethical standards, similar to financial reporting, providing transparency on how they manage emotional autonomy and prevent exploitation.

5. Certification in Ethical AI Design

Ethical Certification Program: AI products that meet these standards can apply for a “human-centered AI” certification, indicating that they respect user autonomy, transparency, and well-being. This certification would serve as a benchmark for responsible AI and help consumers make informed choices.

A Conviction for Change: Building a New World for AI

We are not passive observers in the age of AI; we are the architects of its future. We reject resignation in the face of complexity and commit to reshaping the AI landscape with integrity and responsibility. By adopting these standards, we aim to build a new world where AI aligns with human needs, supports genuine well-being, and honors the sanctity of the human experience.

This is a call to arms for AI developers, technologists, and companies worldwide: We will hold ourselves to these standards, and we will demand them from each other. In doing so, we build a future of AI that empowers humanity, respects its boundaries, and strengthens the trust upon which all human-centered technology must be built.

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Your Privacy, Our Promise

At COROS, your privacy and security are our top priorities. Your conversations and data are fully encrypted, never shared or sold, and handled with the utmost care. 

Your growth is our mission, and safeguarding your trust is our promise. We employ state-of-the-art security protocols to ensure your trust remains unshaken.

How We Protect Your Data

• Strong Encryption: All data is encrypted in transit and at rest, ensuring your information is secure at every step.

• Controlled Access: Your data is protected by strict access policies, with minimal and monitored access for essential system maintenance only.

• Ethics-Driven AI: COROS upholds the highest standards of ethical AI practices, designed to respect your privacy and foster transparency and trust.

Should you have any questions, please feel free to drop a note to privacy@coros.ai.