Quantum Technologies in Industry 4.0: Navigating the Ethical Frontier with Value-Sensitive Design

With the emergence of quantum technologies such as quantum computing, quantum communications, and quantum sensing, potential has emerged for smart manufacturing and Industry 4.0. These technologies, however, present ethical concerns that be addressed in order to ensure they are developed and used responsibly. This article outlines some of the ethical challenges that quantum technologies may raise for Industry 4.0 and presents the value sensitive design methodology as a strategy for ethics-by-design of quantum computing in Industry 4.0. This research further investigates the potential ethical difficulties that may from the use of quantum technologies in Industry 4.0, such as concerns about privacy, security, accountability, and the influence of these technologies on workers and society as a whole. The article argues, based on current literature, that these issues a proactive and comprehensive approach to ethics-by-design. (c) 2023 The Authors. Published by ELSEVIER B.V.