# Ethical Implications: The ACM/IEEE-CS Software Engineering Code applied to Tesla's "Autopilot" System

**Authors:** Kevin Vincent  
**arXiv:** [1901.06244](https://arxiv.org/abs/1901.06244)  
**Date:** 2018-12-13  
**Summary page:** https://www.summarizepaper.com/en/arxiv-id/1901.06244v1/

## Key points

- Tesla introduced Autopilot system in October 2015, offering semi-autonomous driving capabilities
- Fatal incident occurred on March 23, 2018 when a Tesla vehicle under Autopilot control crashed into a highway divider at high speed, resulting in the driver's death
- Critics argue that it is unethical for Tesla to market a system as Autopilot while it still makes critical errors that human drivers would not make
- Some defend Tesla by placing responsibility on drivers for any Autopilot mistakes
- The study conducted by Kevin Vincent scrutinizes ethical dilemmas surrounding Tesla's Autopilot system and emphasizes responsible development and promotion of autonomous driving technologies.

## Summary

In October 2015, Tesla Inc. introduced their Autopilot system, offering semi-autonomous driving capabilities using existing hardware in their vehicles. However, on March 23, 2018, a fatal incident occurred when a Tesla vehicle under Autopilot control crashed into a highway divider at high speed. This resulted in the driver's death without any intervention. Critics argue that despite warnings in the owner's manual, it is unethical for Tesla to market a system as Autopilot while it still makes critical errors that human drivers would not make. On the other hand, some defend Tesla by placing responsibility on drivers for any Autopilot mistakes. This paper delves into the ethical implications of Tesla's decision to release a beta product like Autopilot without sufficient testing. It also examines how Tesla aggressively promoted the system under the name "Autopilot" through various marketing materials. By applying the ACM/IEEE-CS Software Engineering Code of Ethics, it becomes evident that Tesla's actions during this event are inconsistent with ethical standards as they failed to adequately test and truthfully market their product. The study conducted by Kevin Vincent scrutinizes these ethical dilemmas surrounding Tesla's Autopilot system and highlights the importance of responsible development and promotion of autonomous driving technologies to ensure public safety and trust in such innovations.