AI is changing how people experience healthcare through virtual assistants that can provide medical advice and personalized care.
When it comes to the LGBTQ+ community, there are some unique considerations that must be taken into account. Queer individuals may have different needs and perspectives on their health that require special attention from AI systems.
Transgender individuals might need gender-affirming hormone therapy that an AI system cannot easily understand without specific instructions.
Queer couples may want to explore new ways of relating while receiving treatment together, which could involve intimate moments that an AI system would find difficult to comprehend. These issues highlight the importance of understanding how AI systems interact with queer individuals and how they impact human agency, moral responsibility, and relationality.
In terms of agency, queer engagement with AI can challenge traditional ideas about who has control over one's own body and health.
If an individual uses a virtual assistant for hormone therapy, they may feel less in control of their own body because the AI system makes decisions about dosage and timing. This raises questions about whether AI should have access to such sensitive information and what role it plays in determining an individual's wellbeing. Similarly, if two queer partners use AI during intimacy, the system might not fully understand or respect their boundaries. It could lead to misunderstandings between them and possibly compromise their relationship.
As for moral responsibility, there is growing concern among many experts that AI systems lack empathy and emotional intelligence, making them unable to properly address complex ethical situations involving sexual orientation and gender identity. Without proper training and data collection from LGBTQ+ individuals, these systems could perpetuate harmful stereotypes and discrimination.
Queer engagement with AI also challenges traditional concepts of relationality by changing how people relate to each other and seek support.
Instead of relying solely on doctors or friends, some individuals turn to chatbots for help navigating difficult medical treatments like hormone replacement therapy. This shift highlights the need for new models of care that account for non-traditional relationships and support structures.
Queer engagement with AI raises important questions about the future of human agency, moral responsibility, and relationality within healthcare. As more people turn to technology for assistance with their health needs, we must carefully consider how these systems impact our personal lives and identify ways to ensure they benefit everyone equally. By doing so, we can create a safer and more inclusive environment for all patients, regardless of their identities.
How does queer engagement with AI in healthcare provoke new questions about agency, moral responsibility, and relationality?
The growing integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into the field of healthcare has brought forth novel concerns regarding the ethical implications of this technology. One such concern is the notion of agency, which refers to an individual's ability to make decisions and act independently.