Source: Jinwen&

Abstract: The rapid development of artificial intelligence technology has brought about many ethical problems, among which the phenomenon of ethical rinsing is particularly prominent, which has attracted widespread attention from the academic community and the public. Ethical rinsing refers to the fact that companies make their products seem to meet ethical standards through false statements, but in fact they have not solved ethical issues. This article will provide a detailed interpretation of the papers written by Yang Jin and Du Yanyong of Tongji University, in order to provide readers with a comprehensive and in-depth understanding.

Paper information: Yang Jin, Du Yanyong. Ethical rinsing phenomenon of artificial intelligence and its governance[J]. Natural Dialectical Communication, 2025, 47(01):9-17. DOI:10.15994/j.1000-0763.2025.01.002.

introduction

With the rapid development of artificial intelligence technology, its widespread application in various fields has brought many conveniences, but it has also caused many ethical issues. Against this background, the phenomenon of ethical rinsing of artificial intelligence has emerged and has attracted increasing attention. The so-called artificial intelligence ethical rinsing refers to the ethical defects of some companies or institutions through false or misleading ethical statements to obtain benefits. This phenomenon not only harms the public's interests, but also affects the healthy development of artificial intelligence technology.

For example, some companies promote the "AI for Good" program on the one hand, but sell surveillance technology to governments and corporate customers on the other hand. This behavior of disagreement is a typical ethical rinsing. In addition, the “Ethics Guidelines for Trusted Artificial Intelligence” submitted by the European Commission in 2019 has also been accused of “a case of ethical rinsing” for compromises on the moral red line, further highlighting the generality and severity of the phenomenon.

Yang Jin and Du Yanyong's research systematically explores the concept, causes, harm and governance strategies of this phenomenon, which has important theoretical and practical significance. From a theoretical perspective, through in-depth analysis of the phenomenon of artificial intelligence ethical rinsing, it will help enrich and improve the theoretical system of artificial intelligence ethics, and provide important reference and reference for subsequent research. From a practical perspective, the research reveals the causes and harms of ethical rinsing phenomenon and puts forward corresponding governance suggestions, which are of great guiding significance for regulating the development of the artificial intelligence industry, protecting public interests, and promoting the healthy application of artificial intelligence technology. At the same time, the research will also help improve the public's awareness and attention to the ethical issues of artificial intelligence and promote all sectors of society to participate in the ethical governance of artificial intelligence.

The novelty of the paper

Innovation in concept definition

The paper conducts an in-depth analysis of the concept of artificial intelligence ethical rinsing and clarifies its key elements, namely hypocrisy in motivation and falsehood in results. This precise definition of concepts helps unify the academic and industry's understanding of the phenomenon of ethical rinsing, and provides a clear theoretical basis for subsequent research and practice. At the same time, the paper also compared and analyzed ethical rinsing with green rinsing, further highlighting the uniqueness of artificial intelligence ethical rinsing, such as its stronger flexibility and concealment, performativeness and deception, and the broader and far-reaching ethical risks that may be triggered, which provides a new perspective for a deeper understanding of the phenomenon of artificial intelligence ethical rinsing.

Systematic Cause Analysis

When analyzing the causes of ethical rinsing phenomena, the paper adopts a systematic method and conducts a comprehensive discussion from the two aspects of motivational factors and external factors. In terms of motivation factors, the pursuit of interests of producers and the safety-equity needs of consumers and managers are considered; in terms of external factors, the effectiveness dilemma of artificial intelligence ethics, the negative impact of artificial intelligence on ethics, and the prevalence of information differences and governance costs are analyzed. This systematic cause analysis helps to fully understand the mechanism of ethical rinsing and provides strong support for putting forward effective governance suggestions.

Comprehensive governance suggestions

Regarding the phenomenon of ethical rinsing, the paper puts forward comprehensive governance suggestions, including two levels: internal (moral psychology) and external (real system). In the external solution, the focus is on how to solve practical problems caused by information differences and cost differences, such as information differences and cost differences between the producer and consumers and regulators, and corresponding solutions are proposed, such as strengthening education, improving transparency, and improving legal details. In the internal program, governance of moral emotions, including expectations and post-intervention, is emphasized. This comprehensive governance proposal not only focuses on the construction at the system level, but also attaches importance to the impact of the moral psychology level, providing a feasible solution for comprehensively governing the ethical rinsing phenomenon of artificial intelligence.

Research methods of papers

Multidimensional analysis method

The paper adopts a multi-dimensional analysis method and conducts a comprehensive and in-depth study on the ethical rinsing phenomenon of artificial intelligence from multiple dimensions such as concept, cause, harm and governance. Through the precise definition of the concept, the essential characteristics of the ethical rinsing phenomenon are clarified; the causes are analyzed from the two aspects of motivation and external factors; the harm caused by the ethical rinsing phenomenon at the practical and psychological levels is discussed; and finally a comprehensive governance suggestion is put forward. This multi-dimensional analysis method helps to comprehensively and systematically study the phenomenon of artificial intelligence ethical rinsing and reveal its internal laws and essential characteristics.

Case analysis method

During the research process, the paper cites multiple practical cases, such as ethical lobbying activities of companies such as Google, Amazon and Facebook, the incident of Microsoft's ethical and social team removal, and the European Commission's "Trustable Artificial Intelligence Ethics Guide" formulation process. These case analysis helps to vividly demonstrate the manifestations and actual effects of ethical rinsing phenomena, and enhances the persuasiveness and practical significance of the research. At the same time, through in-depth analysis of these cases, the views and theories proposed in the paper are further verified, providing strong support for the proposal of governance suggestions.

Comprehensive research method

During the research process, the paper comprehensively uses a variety of research methods, such as literature research method, comparative research method, and systematic analysis method. By consulting a large number of relevant literature, we can understand the current research status and results of the ethical rinsing phenomenon of artificial intelligence at home and abroad; use comparative research method to compare and analyze ethical rinsing with green rinsing to highlight its uniqueness; use systematic analysis method to comprehensively analyze the causes of ethical rinsing phenomenon from the perspective of motivation and external factors. This comprehensive research method helps to give full play to the advantages of various research methods and improve the scientificity and reliability of research.

The research process of the paper

Concept analysis and identification

The paper first conducts an in-depth analysis of the concept of artificial intelligence ethical rinsing and clarifies its key elements, namely hypocrisy in motivation and falsehood in results. Through an analysis of Floridi's definition of ethical rinsing, ethical rinsing is described as an action taken to solve ethical problems in artificial intelligence products and services, but this action does not really achieve the goal, but rather rinse it into an act of ostensibly achieving the goal through misleading information. At the same time, the paper also analyzed the similarities and differences between ethical rinsing and green rinsing, pointing out that artificial intelligence ethical rinsing has stronger flexibility and concealment, performativeness and deceptiveness, and may cause wider and far-reaching ethical risks.

Causes and harms of rinsing

When analyzing the causes of ethical rinsing phenomena, the paper conducted a comprehensive discussion on the motivational factors and external factors. Motivation factors include the pursuit of interests of producers and the security-equity needs of consumers and managers; external factors include the effectiveness dilemma of artificial intelligence ethics, the interest factors, the negative impact of artificial intelligence on ethics, and the prevalence of information differences and governance costs. Through the analysis of these factors, the internal mechanism and external environment of the ethical rinsing phenomenon are revealed. At the same time, the paper also deeply explores the harm caused by the phenomenon of ethical rinsing at the practical and psychological levels, such as the concealment of key ethical issues, the increase in ethical risks, the prevalence of hypocrisy, the public's doubts about the effectiveness of the ethical principles of artificial intelligence and the feasibility of governance plans, and aggravates panic and negative emotions about artificial intelligence.

Governance suggestions for artificial intelligence ethical rinsing

Regarding the phenomenon of ethical rinsing, the paper puts forward comprehensive governance suggestions, including two levels: internal (moral psychology) and external (real system). In the external solution, the focus is on how to solve practical problems caused by information differences and cost differences, such as information differences and cost differences between the producer and consumers and regulators, and corresponding solutions are proposed, such as strengthening education, improving transparency, and improving legal details. In the internal program, governance of moral emotions, including expectations and post-intervention, is emphasized. Expected construction requires guiding the public to take on the ethics of artificial intelligence towards realism and rationalism, eliminating unrealistic descriptions of the effectiveness of artificial intelligence ethics in commercial propaganda and cultural works, and cultivating a rational and scientific spirit; post-intervention requires considering the psychological intervention and treatment of individuals after being violated, as well as the effective response of skeptical attitudes at the public level, and relevant departments should rebuild and maintain the moral confidence that has been destroyed.

Conclusion and prospect of the paper

Research Conclusion

Through in-depth research on the phenomenon of artificial intelligence ethical rinsing, the paper draws the following conclusions: First, as a behavior, its main characteristics are the hypocrisy of motivation and the falsehood of results; Second, the formation of ethical rinsing is determined by a comprehensive determination of motivational factors and external factors; Third, ethical rinsing causes serious harm in reality and psychology, and needs to be governed from the two levels of internal (moral psychology) and external (real system). The research of the paper provides important theoretical and practical references for the field of artificial intelligence ethics, which helps regulate the development of the artificial intelligence industry, protect the public's interests, and promote the healthy application of artificial intelligence technology.

Research Outlook

Although the paper has conducted a relatively comprehensive and in-depth study on the phenomenon of ethical rinsing of artificial intelligence, due to the complexity and dynamic nature of this phenomenon, there are still many problems that need to be further explored. For example, with the continuous development of artificial intelligence technology, new manifestations and characteristics of ethical rinsing may appear, which require continuous attention and research; in terms of governance, how to more effectively coordinate the interests of all parties and promote the implementation of governance measures is also an issue that needs to be explored for a long time. In addition, the phenomenon of artificial intelligence ethical rinsing not only involves technical issues, but also factors in multiple fields such as society, culture, and law. Interdisciplinary research methods and cooperation mechanisms are needed to further study. In short, the phenomenon of artificial intelligence ethical rinsing is a topic worthy of long-term attention, and research on it will help promote the healthy development of artificial intelligence technology and the sustainable development of society.

Conclusion

Through a comprehensive discussion of the phenomenon of ethical rinsing, Yang Jin and Du Yanyong's papers provide valuable theoretical support and practical guidance for understanding and responding to this complex problem. Future research can be further deepened on this basis, explore more diversified governance paths, and promote successful practical experiences around the world.