Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a transformative force in today’s world, revolutionising every industry, and reshaping the interaction between humans and technology.
So inescapable is AI’s impact that it is expected to close the gap in digitalisation, allowing everyone, regardless of their digital literacy, to interact with computers.
As the technology continues to evolve and become more ubiquitous, the question of its ethical implications becomes more urgent.
While we are still in the early stages of adoption of AI in relation to the overall global population, the technology promises to heavily impact every aspect of our lives.
Its ubiquity is being supported by the rapid advancement in AI’s support technologies such as machine learning and cloud computing, paired with increasing digitalisation globally. Furthermore, there is growing consumer demand for AI-powered solutions which also drives uptake.
Considering the scale and depth of AI’s potential impact, it is imperative that ethical considerations are made in its research and development. Ethical AI research especially urgent bearing in mind the billions of dollars that are currently being funnelled into developing new AI products.
To undertake this monumental task, there are five main guiding principles: humanity, fairness, safety, accountability, and transparency. We should aim to provide benefits towards humanity, while respecting diversity and fairness. In the drive to ensure products and processes maintain the highest standards of safety, it is crucial to have clearly defined roles and responsibilities.
Developers should also stay transparent to ensure their customers understand how the AI they use works so they can trust it better.
Additionally, there is need to place a premium on privacy and data security. With data being the lifeblood of AI, it is vital to recognise the importance of protecting personal information.
To this end, ethical AI research, development – and even deployment – needs to be done within the delineation of robust data governance frameworks that guarantee responsible data handling with user protection and privacy as key priorities.
The implications of these principles in AI research reach far beyond individual organisation. The whole world is currently at a critical juncture where technology and it developers have outpaced regulations and legislation.
This requires industry to be its own regulator.
Consequently, the private sector needs to look at more than profit when researching and developing AI. Ethical AI research and development are critical to avoiding unforeseen consequences. It also plays a crucial role in ensuring that AI technologies are aligned with societal values and contribute positively to human welfare.
It is very easy for issues like amplification of biases, threats to privacy and security, or even far-reaching misinformation to take root in AI products. As the adage goes, “prevention is better than cure.” It behoves us to be wary of the pitfalls before we have to remedy the situation.
By balancing innovation with responsibility, organisations can help improve public trust in AI technologies – which is essential for widespread adoption. Ethical AI research and development is not only about mitigating risk, but also about maximising benefits.
It opens up opportunities for innovation as developers ponder the ways to create and apply AI systems that are not only powerful, but also safe for widespread public use.
As AI continues to shape the future, it is essential for organisations to pull in the same direction: the one that ensures AI technologies are developed and deployed in ways that serve the common good. Through ethical AI research and development, we can harness the full potential of AI while safeguarding the world’s wellbeing.
The writer is LG Electronics East Africa Managing Director.
