AI & Ethics: Navigating the Complex Landscape

What Are AI Ethics

AI ethics is the branch of the ethics of technology that deals with the moral implications of developing and using artificial intelligence (AI) systems. As AI becomes more pervasive and powerful, it poses new challenges and opportunities for society, such as enhancing human capabilities, improving social welfare, and protecting human rights. However, it also raises ethical concerns, such as ensuring fairness, accountability, transparency, privacy, and security of AI systems and their impacts on individuals and communities. How can we ensure that AI is used for good and not evil? How can we balance innovation and regulation? How can we foster trust and collaboration among stakeholders? These are some of the questions that AI ethics aims to address.

In this blog post, I will detail some of the recent trends and developments in AI ethics and how to navigate them in the tech industry in the year 2023. I will also highlight some of the best practices and initiatives that large corporations are adopting to promote responsible AI and how you can help them and make them better than the average person.

AI Ethical Developments in the Year 2023

AI ethics is not a static or monolithic concept; rather, it is a dynamic and diverse field that evolves with the advancement of technology and society. In 2023, we can expect to see some of the following trends and developments in AI ethics:

• More legislation and regulation: As AI becomes more widespread and influential, there is a growing need for legal and regulatory frameworks to ensure its ethical use and governance. In 2021, UNESCO produced the first-ever global standard on AI ethics – the ‘Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence’¹, which was adopted by all 193 Member States. The Recommendation provides a set of values, principles, and policy action areas to guide the design, development, deployment, and evaluation of AI systems in a human-centric manner. In 2023, we can expect to see more countries and regions implementing or updating their national laws and policies based on the Recommendation or other similar frameworks. For example, the European Union has proposed a draft regulation on AI², which aims to establish a risk-based approach to regulating AI applications according to their potential impact on human rights, safety, and democracy. The regulation also introduces obligations for high-risk AI systems, such as transparency, accuracy, human oversight, and conformity assessment.

• More ethical oversight and audit: As AI becomes more complex and autonomous, there is a growing need for ethical oversight and audit mechanisms to ensure its compliance with ethical standards and regulations. In 2023, we can expect to see more organizations establishing or enhancing their ethical oversight and audit functions for AI systems. For example, Google has created an independent body called the Advanced Technology External Advisory Council (ATEAC)³, which consists of experts from various fields who provide advice on Google’s AI projects and research. Similarly, IBM has established an internal AI Ethics Board⁴, which reviews IBM’s AI products and services for ethical issues and provides guidance on best practices. Moreover, we can expect to see more third-party or external audit services for AI systems, such as certification bodies or independent experts who can verify the ethical performance of AI systems according to established criteria or standards.

• More stakeholder engagement and participation: As AI affects various aspects of society, there is a growing need for stakeholder engagement and participation in the development and governance of AI systems. In 2023, we can expect to see more efforts to involve diverse stakeholders in the co-creation and co-regulation of AI systems. For example, Microsoft has launched an initiative called Responsible AI Chats⁵, which invites people from different backgrounds and perspectives to share their views on various topics related to AI ethics. Similarly, Facebook has created an Oversight Board⁶, which is an independent body that reviews Facebook’s content moderation decisions involving human rights, free expression, and public interest. Moreover, we can expect to see more platforms or tools that enable stakeholder feedback or input on AI systems, such as surveys, polls, ratings, reviews, or comments.

Conclusion

Overall, AI ethics is a complex and evolving field that requires continuous learning and adaptation. In 2023, we can expect to see more legislation and regulation, more ethical oversight and audit, and more stakeholder engagement and participation in the development and governance of AI systems. As AI becomes more pervasive and powerful, it is important for all stakeholders to work together to ensure its ethical use and governance. How can we ensure that AI is used for good and not evil? How can we balance innovation and regulation? How can we foster trust and collaboration among stakeholders? These are some of the questions that AI ethics aims to address.

While everything is far from addressed, solved, or even written in stone, we still have a chance to make the world a better place. We can do this by being more aware of the issues raised, and by being more proactive in our approach to AI ethics. We can also do this by being more open to collaboration and dialogue with other stakeholders, such as governments, companies, and civil society organizations. I hope that this blog post has given you some ideas on how to navigate the complex landscape of AI ethics in the year 2023.

Signing off,

//TheModdersDen

Sources

1. Ethics of Artificial Intelligence

   UNESCO. https://www.unesco.org/en/artificial-intelligence/recommendation-ethics.

2. Ethics of artificial intelligence - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethics_of_artificial_intelligence.

3. AI Ethics: What It Is and Why It Matters

   Coursera. https://www.coursera.org/articles/ai-ethics.

4. Understanding artificial intelligence ethics and safety - GOV.UK. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/understanding-artificial-intelligence-ethics-and-safety.
5. 2023 Will Be The Year Of AI Ethics Legislation Acceleration - Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/cindygordon/2022/12/28/2023-will-be-the-year-of-ai-ethics-legislation-acceleration/.
6. AI Horizons: Intelligent Innovation & Ethical Progress - Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2023/10/02/ai-horizons-intelligent-innovation--ethical-progress/.
7. Top 9 Ethical Dilemmas of AI and How to Navigate Them in 2023 - AIMultiple. https://research.aimultiple.com/ai-ethics/.
8. 15 AI Ethics Leaders Showing The World The Way Of The Future - Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/markminevich/2021/08/09/15-ai-ethics-leaders-showing-the-world-the-way-of-the-future/.