# Expose Uncertainty, Instill Distrust, Avoid Explanations: Towards Ethical Guidelines for AI

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2112.01281 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2112.01281/

## Key facts

- Cited by 3 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- First posted on arXiv 29 Nov 2021.

## Built on by (most cited first, 3 of 3)

- [Toward General Design Principles for Generative AI Applications](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2301.05578/) (2023)
- [Vibe Check: Understanding the Effects of LLM-Based Conversational Agents' Personality and Alignment on User Perceptions in Goal-Oriented Tasks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2509.09870/) (2025)
- [Actionable AI: Enabling Non Experts to Understand and Configure AI Systems](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2503.06803/) (2025)

## Abstract (arXiv)

In this position paper, I argue that the best way to help and protect humans using AI technology is to make them aware of the intrinsic limitations and problems of AI algorithms. To accomplish this, I suggest three ethical guidelines to be used in the presentation of results, mandating AI systems to expose uncertainty, to instill distrust, and, contrary to traditional views, to avoid explanations. The paper does a preliminary discussion of the guidelines and provides some arguments for their adoption, aiming to start a debate in the community about AI ethics in practice.