Which practice best reflects the ethics criterion that requires full disclosure of a system's capabilities, limitations, and potential problems?

• A. Provide full disclosure of all system capabilities, limitations, and potential problems.
• B. Hide system limitations to avoid alarming stakeholders.
• C. Only disclose capabilities while withholding limitations.
• D. Disclose capabilities only after deployment.

Answer: (A)

Transparency about what a system can do, what it can’t do, and what could go wrong is the ethical standard here. Providing full disclosure ensures that stakeholders—users, operators, managers, and regulators—can make informed decisions, assess risks, and plan appropriate mitigations. It supports accountability and trust, because people aren’t left guessing about limitations or hidden problems, and it helps prevent harm that could arise from overpromising or undisclosed flaws. When capabilities, limitations, and potential problems are clearly shared upfront, everyone can weigh benefits against risks, allocate resources for safety and security, and respond quickly if issues emerge. Conversely, hiding limitations or withholding information misleads stakeholders, increases the likelihood of unforeseen failures, and undermines safety and trust. Delaying disclosure until after deployment also leaves users exposed to unanticipated risks.