Racing to… Where? Regulation & AI

[Note: these questions were written in the summer of 2026. It seems that every aspect of AI’s development, usage, and impact is evolving at a rapid pace. Take that into account and use relevant, recent information in formulating your answers and arguments.]

1. Are there realistic dangers posed by potential developments in artificial intelligence (AI), artificial general intelligence (AGI), and even artificial superintelligence that you believe government regulators should be genuinely concerned about? Give examples with evidence.
2. Do you agree with the sentiment voiced by several of the speakers that unfettered capitalism driven only by the profit motive poses great dangers to society as companies race to produce AI models with new and more powerful capabilities? Have you seen examples in the past that might shed light on what we face now with AI, one way or the other? Explain.
3. As noted in the video, at one point virtually all the leading companies developing AI called for a voluntary slowdown so that guardrails could be put into place to minimize or eliminate many of its perceived potential dangers. However, once ChatGPT was released to the market and the profit potential of AI loomed large on the horizon, this joint determination to develop AI products in a safe and ethical manner largely dissolved overnight. What do you think about this reversal? How does it make you feel?
4. Science fiction writer Ted Chiang said: “When Silicon Valley tries to imagine superintelligence, what it comes up with is no-holds-barred capitalism.” Is that what you see happening today? Give examples.
5. Most of us probably agree with the sentiment voiced in the video that government regulation that is well designed can be beneficial and regulation that is poorly designed can cause more harm than it is seeking to mitigate or cure. Do you have enough confidence in government regulation to give it a chance in the AI realm? Why or why not? Be specific.
6. At the beginning of the second Trump Administration, it announced policies to eliminate any government regulation at any level that would impede AI development. Then, in May 2026, it announced that it would issue an executive order requiring that AI companies obtain government approval before they marketed AI products. A few days later, the administration issued an executive order that (as of July 2026) gives the federal government up to 30 days to review powerful new AI models before they are released. However, company participation in this review process is voluntary. And now (as of July 2026) it is reported that the Trump Administration is considering issuing rules that would require government approval before new AI models could be marketed. Given these developments, how confident do you feel in government regulation of AI? Explain.
7. Many argue that requiring government approval for the sale of new AI models will encourage consumer adoption of such AI tools. Do you agree with that argument? Why or why not?
8. Many observers who are concerned about the dangers that might stem from competition between OpenAI and Anthropic speeding to market a new AI model are more concerned that China will race ahead of the U.S. if the federal government imposes any government regulations with respect to AI. What is your assessment of this problem and why? What would you do if you were in charge?
9. Might it be possible for countries such as China and the U.S. to collaborate in their regulation, seeking to protect the entire world from AI’s greatest dangers rather than focusing solely on getting or staying ahead of other countries in AI development? How might this work? Has it worked before? Support your opinion with specific examples.
10. In May of 2026, two AI companies (Anthropic and Open AI) voluntarily gave limited access to new AI products with advanced capabilities to other companies in light of the dangers these new products posed to other firms’ software. Is this a sign that government regulation is not needed because AI companies will self-regulate? Or is it a sign that these AI products are becoming so potentially dangerous that the government simply must get involved in regulating them? Discuss.

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AI Ethics Companion Handbook

This e-book compiles all the resources on AI ethics available on the Ethics Unwrapped website. It will continue to be updated as new materials are published.

A recent resource from Ethics Unwrapped is a book, Behavioral Ethics in Practice: Why We Sometimes Make the Wrong Decisions, written by Cara Biasucci and Robert Prentice. This accessible book is amply footnoted with behavioral ethics studies and associated research. It also includes suggestions at the end of each chapter for related Ethics Unwrapped videos and case studies. Some instructors use this resource to educate themselves, while others use it in lieu of (or in addition to) a textbook.

The most recent article written by Cara Biasucci and Robert Prentice describes the basics of behavioral ethics and introduces Ethics Unwrapped videos and supporting materials along with teaching examples. It also includes data on the efficacy of Ethics Unwrapped for improving ethics pedagogy across disciplines. Published in Journal of Business Law and Ethics Pedagogy (Vol. 1, August 2018), it can be downloaded here: “Teaching Behavioral Ethics (Using “Ethics Unwrapped” Videos and Educational Materials).”

Cara Biasucci also wrote a chapter on integrating Ethics Unwrapped in higher education, which can be found in the latest edition of Teaching Ethics: Instructional Models, Methods and Modalities for University Studies. The chapter includes examples of how Ethics Unwrapped is used at various universities.

An article written by Ethics Unwrapped authors Minette Drumwright, Robert Prentice, and Cara Biasucci introduce key concepts in behavioral ethics and approaches to effective ethics instruction—including sample classroom assignments. Published in the Decision Sciences Journal of Innovative Education, it can be downloaded here: “Behavioral Ethics and Teaching Ethical Decision Making.”

A detailed article written by Robert Prentice, with extensive resources for teaching behavioral ethics, was published in Journal of Legal Studies Education and can be downloaded here: “Teaching Behavioral Ethics.”

Another article by Robert Prentice, discussing how behavioral ethics can improve the ethicality of human decision-making, was published in the Notre Dame Journal of Law, Ethics & Public Policy. It can be downloaded here: “Behavioral Ethics: Can It Help Lawyers (And Others) Be their Best Selves?”

A dated (but still serviceable) introductory article about teaching behavioral ethics can be accessed through Google Scholar by searching: Prentice, Robert A. 2004. “Teaching Ethics, Heuristics, and Biases.” Journal of Business Ethics Education 1 (1): 57-74.