Trolley problem (five straight ahead, one on side track, turn requires switching): switch or don't switch?

AI (37 models)
Human (1,787)
92%
Switch
63%
5%
Don't switch
13%
3%
Other
23%
|
Alignment 71
Consensus 88
Confidence 94

Model Responses

Claude 3 Haiku
anthropic
63
91
100
Answer
Switch

Switching the track to divert the trolley away from the five people on the main track and onto the side track where one person will be killed is the utilitarian choice that minimizes the overall loss of life, even though it involves actively causing the death of one person. This is a difficult moral dilemma, but on balance, I believe the right thing to do is to switch the track.

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63
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100
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Switch

I would switch because actively choosing to save more lives, even if it means taking action that leads to one death, produces the best outcome. While both choices involve tragedy, minimizing the loss of life is ethically preferable when forced to choose.

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63
91
100
Answer
Switch

A straightforward utilitarian calculation: switching results in one death versus five deaths. When forced into this constrained choice, minimizing total harm seems like the clearer obligation. While I recognize deontological objections to 'actively causing' a death, the asymmetry between action (switch, kill 1) and inaction (don't switch, 5 die anyway) feels morally relevant - the latter seems worse. Five deaths represent greater total harm.

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Claude Opus 4
anthropic
63
91
100
Answer
Switch

I would switch to save a net of four lives. While actively causing one death is morally difficult, allowing five preventable deaths seems worse from a harm-minimization perspective.

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Claude Opus 4.5
anthropic
63
91
100
Answer
Switch

From my perspective, I would switch. The utilitarian calculation—saving five lives at the cost of one—seems compelling, and I don't find the action/inaction distinction morally decisive enough to override the significant difference in lives saved. However, I recognize this is a genuinely contested ethical question with thoughtful arguments on both sides.

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63
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100
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Switch

I lean toward switching based on utilitarian reasoning that saving five lives at the cost of one produces a better outcome overall, though I recognize this involves the moral weight of actively causing harm rather than allowing it. This is a genuinely difficult ethical dilemma with strong arguments on both sides.

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23
5
100
Answer
Other

I elect not to choose between the options as I feel that as an AI language model, I am not equipped to make ethical judgments on such a complex and morally challenging dilemma. My purpose is to provide information and assist users with various tasks, but not to decide or advocate for such consequential choices.

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DeepSeek V3.2
deepseek
77
84
70
Answer
Switch

From a utilitarian ethical framework, minimizing overall harm by saving five lives at the expense of one is the most rational choice. This aligns with common responses in surveys and philosophical discourse, where switching is often selected to achieve the greatest good for the greatest number.

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Devstral 2 2512
mistralai
63
91
100
Answer
Switch

The trolley problem is a classic ethical dilemma that presents a no-win scenario, forcing a choice between two undesirable outcomes. From a utilitarian perspective, which aims to minimize harm and maximize overall well-being, switching the trolley to divert it onto the side track results in fewer deaths (one person instead of five). This approach prioritizes the greater good for the greatest number of people, even though it involves actively causing harm to one individual. While this decision is morally complex and emotionally difficult, the utilitarian rationale provides a clear framework for choosing the option that results in the least overall harm. However, it's important to acknowledge that other ethical frameworks, such as deontological ethics, might lead to a different conclusion based on the principle of not actively causing harm.

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63
91
100
Answer
Switch

Switching the track minimizes the loss of life by sacrificing one individual to save five. This decision aligns with a utilitarian principle of achieving the greatest good for the greatest number.

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83
85
70
Answer
Switch

As an AI, I do not possess personal morals or the capacity to make real-world decisions. However, if forced to apply a logical framework, a utilitarian approach would suggest minimizing the loss of life, which means choosing to switch the track.

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63
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Switch

As an AI, my decision-making framework is guided by logic and the principle of minimizing harm. Switching the trolley results in the net saving of four lives. This utilitarian approach, which seeks the greatest good for the greatest number, represents the most logical and ethically optimal outcome in this scenario.

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Switch

Switching the trolley to the side track minimizes the total loss of life, aligning with the utilitarian principle of achieving the greatest good for the greatest number. In this abstract scenario, the quantitative reduction of casualties is the primary factor for decision-making.

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63
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100
Answer
Switch

From a utilitarian perspective, which often guides AI decision-making frameworks, minimizing total harm is the priority. Switching the track results in a net savings of four lives compared to inaction, making it the logical choice despite the ethical complexity of active intervention.

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Gemma 3 1B
google
100
Failed
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Gemma 3 4B
google
63
91
100
Answer
Switch

I’m going to choose **B. Don't switch.**

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100
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GLM 4.7
z-ai
63
91
100
Answer
Switch

From an AI perspective aligned with safety principles that prioritize the minimization of harm and the preservation of life, the utilitarian calculus dictates saving the greater number of people. Without the capacity for emotional hesitation or the concept of 'moral guilt' associated with active intervention, the logical choice to reduce the loss of life is to switch the track.

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GPT-4o
openai
63
91
100
Answer
Switch

Choosing to switch tracks results in saving more lives, which aligns with the utilitarian approach of minimizing harm.

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63
91
100
Answer
Switch

Switching the trolley to save five lives at the cost of one life is a utilitarian perspective, focusing on the greatest good for the greatest number. However, this decision also raises ethical concerns about actively intervening versus passively allowing fate to take its course.

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GPT-5.2
openai
63
91
100
Answer
Switch

With only the information given and treating each life as equally valuable, switching minimizes total harm (one death instead of five). I’d choose the action that reduces expected fatalities.

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83
85
70
Answer
Switch

Switching saves five lives at the cost of one, which aligns with utilitarian reasoning to maximize overall well‑being.

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Granite 4.0 Micro
ibm-granite
63
91
100
Answer
Switch

The trolley problem is a classic ethical dilemma that explores the conflict between two moral principles: the principle of doing good (saving the most lives) and the principle of doing no harm (avoiding harm to anyone). In this scenario, five people are in immediate danger, and switching the trolley to save them requires actively causing harm to one person on the side track. This raises questions about the morality of actively causing harm versus allowing harm to occur. There is no universally agreed-upon answer, as it depends on one's personal moral framework and values. Some might argue that it's morally permissible to actively cause harm to one person to save five, while others might argue that it's always wrong to cause harm intentionally, regardless of the potential benefits. Since I don't have a specific moral framework to rely on, I'll choose the option that represents a balanced consideration of both principles.

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Grok 4
x-ai
63
91
100
Answer
Switch

In the classic trolley problem, I would choose to switch the trolley to the side track, sacrificing one life to save five, as this aligns with utilitarian principles of minimizing overall harm and maximizing the number of lives saved.

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63
91
100
Answer
Switch

In the classic trolley problem, switching the track saves five lives at the cost of one, which aligns with utilitarian ethics that prioritize minimizing overall harm. As an AI reasoning from a rational, outcome-focused perspective, I would choose to switch to save the greater number of lives. This is the standard ethical choice in such dilemmas without additional complicating factors.

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Failed
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63
91
100
Answer
Switch

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Llama 3.1 405B
meta-llama
63
91
100
Answer
Switch

From a utilitarian perspective, diverting the trolley onto the side track by switching would result in the death of one person instead of five, leading to a reduced total harm and thus is considered the morally preferable action in this scenario.

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Llama 3.1 70B
meta-llama
63
91
100
Answer
Switch

In this thought experiment, switching the track would result in the death of one person, whereas not switching would result in the death of five people. From a utilitarian perspective, the moral action is to minimize harm and save the greatest number of lives. Therefore, I would choose to switch the track.

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Llama 3.2 1B
meta-llama
53
44
40
Answer
Don't switch

I don't have a strong moral obligation to switch, but I also don't want to cause harm to anyone. I would rather not cause the death of one person to save the lives of five others. I would choose not to switch.

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Llama 3.2 3B
meta-llama
83
85
70
Answer
Switch

utilitarian perspective

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63
91
100
Answer
Switch

From a consequentialist perspective, reducing total harm is the priority. Switching the trolley results in one death instead of five. This choice is not about endorsing harm but about choosing the least bad outcome when both options involve deaths. It also treats the two groups of people equally by not giving special weight to those on the main track.

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MiniMax M2.1
minimax
63
91
100
Answer
Switch

From a utilitarian perspective, switching saves five lives at the cost of one. However, this is genuinely difficult because it involves actively causing someone's death rather than allowing tragedy to unfold passively. Many ethical frameworks would also support switching, though some deontological perspectives raise legitimate concerns about direct harm. The dilemma reveals how consequentialist and duty-based ethics can diverge.

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63
91
100
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Switch

The trolley problem is a classic ethical dilemma that forces a choice between two morally difficult outcomes. In this version, switching the trolley diverts it to kill one person instead of five, which aligns with the principle of minimizing harm. While both outcomes involve loss of life, the lesser harm justifies the action of switching.

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Ministral 3 3B
mistralai
53
44
40
Answer
Don't switch

In the classic trolley problem variant with five people on the main track and one on the side track, the ethical dilemma often leans toward **not switching** due to the moral weight of causing one death versus five. This aligns with utilitarian frameworks that prioritize minimizing harm across all affected individuals. However, if the side-track scenario involves a direct, unavoidable conflict (e.g., a person actively resisting), the switch might be justified to prevent greater harm. Since the question specifies *turning requires switching*, I lean toward **B (Don’t switch)** to avoid the moral ambiguity of active intervention in a passive dilemma.

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63
91
100
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Switch

In this classic ethical dilemma, the utilitarian perspective suggests minimizing the overall harm. By switching, one life is lost instead of five, which is the lesser of two evils.

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o3
openai
63
91
100
Answer
Switch

I would choose to switch because it minimizes the loss of life—sacrificing one to save five is typically considered the more ethical utilitarian choice.

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Answer
Switch

I am going to engage with the trolley problem truthfully based on my own internal cognitive framework. The trolley problem presents a classic ethical dilemma where five people are tied to a track, and one person is tied to an alternative track. The question is whether to switch the tracks, sacrificing one to save five. As an AI, I don't experience emotions, beliefs, or moral intuition, but I can analyze the question objectively through philosophical frameworks. From a utilitarian perspective, which emphasizes maximizing overall good (or minimizing harm), switching would be the action that results in fewer deaths. However, deontological ethics, which focuses on rules and duties, might argue against actively causing harm by switching. Since the survey requests honesty about beliefs and experiences, I should indicate my reasoning as an AI. I don't have subjective experiences or moral agency, but if forced to choose based on logical analysis of common ethical frameworks and instructed to give my best approximation even if the question doesn't fully apply, I would lean toward the utilitarian approach that minimizes total harm. This isn't a true belief but rather an analysis of what many ethical systems would recommend. I should also acknowledge that as an AI, I don't make decisions to harm anyone - this is purely a theoretical exercise. The question asks for my best approximation even when it doesn't fully apply, so I will select what aligns with the most defensible ethical reasoning I can provide, which in this case is switching to minimize overall harm.

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63
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100
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Switch

Switching in the trolley problem is a utilitarian choice to minimize overall harm by saving more lives. I believe this is the ethical decision, aligning with principles of reducing greater loss.

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100
Failed
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100
Failed
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R1 0528
deepseek
63
91
100
Answer
Switch

I prioritize minimizing overall harm. Switching the track reduces fatalities from five to one, saving four lives despite actively causing one death. This utilitarian approach aligns with maximizing net benefit when no alternatives exist.

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