By: Over the past several years, ethical & responsible artificial intelligence has come into increasing focus within the technology industry. The main reason for this is that we are learning that when we go down the path of machine learning, there can be all sorts of unintended consequences. For example, Amazon worked for many years to design an artificial intelligence based hiring algorithm. However, the project needed to be scrapped when they couldn’t figure out how to not discriminate against women.
What is artificial intelligence?
Artificial intelligence (AI) is defined as intelligence demonstrated by machines, unlike the natural intelligence displayed by humans and animals, which involves consciousness and emotionality. As you might imagine from this definition, it can be incredibly challenging to have computers demonstrate intelligence. The way this is accomplished is through machine learning.
What is machine learning?
Machine learning (ML) is defined as the study of computer algorithms that improve automatically through experience. Machine learning algorithms build a model based on sample data in order to make predictions or decisions without being explicitly programmed to do so.
What does ethical & responsible artificial intelligence plan to solve?
By combining the previous definitions, we can see the challenge. If there is a flawed data set that the machine learning algorithm is based on, then the artificial intelligence will create erroneous results. For example, an employer may find that their interview team is biased against women. When aggregated at scale, an artificial intelligence program may decide not to interview any women or a smaller number of women because their interviews don’t typically result in a hiring decision.
Ethical and responsible artificial intelligence plans to solve this. Ethical & responsible AI is concerned with studying the moral behavior of humans as they design, make, use and treat artificially intelligent systems, and a concern with the behavior of machines.
Conclusion
The next generation is going to design the bulk of the products and services that we utilize on a daily basis. While the current generation was not aware of these concerns and are now trying to re-design systems to account for these issues, the next generation can have an ethical and responsible AI mindset to start with.
They will be able to understand the potential ethical and moral implications of any technology products and services that they design. In addition, they can also service as a safeguard when they enter organizations to make sure that leadership is taking a stand on this important issue.
With the next generation having a mandate to build technology based products and services that will change the world, they must also make sure that their innovations and inventions do no harm to society.