SpanishB2Lesson 6.2
🇪🇸 Spanish B2 · Lesson 6.2

La ética de la IA — Ethics of technology / AI

Speculate about past and counterfactual scenarios with « si » + pluperfect subjunctive.

Listen first

Two experts debate whether AI was deployed too quickly.

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New vocabulary — tap to hear
la inteligencia artificialartificial intelligence 🔊
el sesgo algorítmicoalgorithmic bias 🔊
la privacidad de los datosdata privacy 🔊
la responsabilidad éticaethical responsibility 🔊
supervisar el sistemato oversee the system 🔊
reemplazar puestos de trabajoto replace jobs 🔊

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« Si hubiéramos previsto los riesgos, no habríamos lanzado el sistema tan pronto. » 🔊
If we had foreseen the risks, we wouldn't have launched the system so soon.
—
Pronunciation

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Si hubiéramos regulado la IA antes, habríamos evitado muchos abusos. 🔊If we had regulated AI sooner, we would have avoided many abuses.
Es probable, pero nadie había previsto un avance tan rápido. 🔊That's likely, but no one had foreseen such rapid progress.
Si las empresas hubieran sido transparentes, la gente confiaría más. 🔊If companies had been transparent, people would trust them more.
El sesgo algorítmico es preocupante: discrimina sin que nadie lo decida. 🔊Algorithmic bias is worrying: it discriminates without anyone deciding it should.
Por eso es imprescindible que un humano supervise siempre el sistema. 🔊That's why it's essential that a human always oversees the system.
Si no protegemos la privacidad de los datos, lo lamentaremos. 🔊If we don't protect data privacy, we'll regret it.
Grammar in focus · counterfactual conditionals (third type)

To speculate about an unreal past, use « si + pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo, + condicional compuesto »: « Si hubiera sabido el riesgo, habría actuado distinto » (If I had known the risk, I would have acted differently). The « -ra » and « -se » forms are interchangeable (« hubiera » / « hubiese »). A mixed type expresses a past condition with a present result: « Si hubieran regulado la IA, hoy confiaríamos más » (past hubieran → present conditional confiaríamos). Never use « habría » in the « si » clause — only the subjunctive.

Write it yourself

Write a counterfactual reflection on a tech decision (4–5 sentences) using « si hubiera…, habría… » at least twice.

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Tip for this task
« ¡Bien! » Keep the subjunctive in the « si » clause: « Si hubieran avisado, habríamos cambiado el diseño ». For a present consequence, mix: « Si lo hubieran hecho bien, hoy todo funcionaría ». Never write « si habría ».

Quick check

An adaptive quiz confirms you've got it and schedules the right words for review.

1. « Si lo ___ sabido, habría avisado. »
2. Result clause of a past counterfactual uses…
3. Which is WRONG in the « si » clause?
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