Working Alongside Non-Human Agents

Abstract

We coexist with non-human AI agents, and we now must plan for human and non-human-agent teaming, for cooperation and collaboration, as a means to expand collaborative intelligence in our ongoing quest for user advocacy. For practice and experimentation, we provide links to current non-human agents. We then distinguish automation and autonomy, and discuss humanness design, teaming. A deeper understanding of usability and ethical considerations for working alongside these systems, deploying robots and building bonds and trust with nonhuman agents, begins with differentiation of automation and autonomy, human-autonomy teaming, and a humanness design approach as a means to prevent undesirable autonomy. While TPC scholarship attends to privacy, accountability, safety and security, and transparency and explainability, we need additional vigilance regarding fairness and non-discrimination, human control of technology, TPC professional responsibility, and continued promotion of human values as we work alongside non-human agents.