ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS OF AI SYSTEMS

The way AI systems are made and designed must put into consideration AI ethics and safety as well.  Ethics in AI was mainly created to help prevent and reduce harm towards people and society from being inadvertently caused by the abuse of AI systems, those that are poorly designed or have chances of causing negative effects. This blog looks at some of the ethical considerations of artificial intelligence.

Bias and Fairness

           An article by Trotta & Lomonaco (2023) stated that there is a possibility of

AI systems inheriting biases found in training data and therefore producing results that are biased or unfair. This may then lead to prejudice against some groups, an increase in societal biases and an increase in already existing disparities.

Transparency

           It may be difficult to understand how decisions are made considering many AI algorithms function as ‘’black boxes’’(Gunning, 2017). Lack of openness can lead to reduced confidence, make it difficult to identify and deal with biases or mistakes as well as impede accountability.

Privacy

            According to Susan, (2020), AI systems usually use a lot of personal data which then brings about questions in regards to how the private data is collected and managed. There is also the challenge of identity theft, privacy invasion, and improper use of personal information.

Security

                Artificial intelligence (AI) systems are also prone to attacks which could mean manipulation or malicious use. Data breaches, system manipulation and even harm to people and businesses are all cyber security risks. (Gunning, 2017).

Autonomy and Accountability

       Concerns have been raised in regard to the accountability of decisions and behaviours of the AI systems given their growing autonomy. It can be difficult to specifically assign blame for AI related mistakes and many consequences could come from a lack of accountability. (Trotta & Lomonaco 2023).

Job Displacement

        Joblessness and economic instability can be caused by Artificial intelligence (AI) driven automation which has the capacity to take over some jobs. This can then bring about challenges such as social and economic equity, loss of livelihoods and difficulty in adjusting to a job market. (Susan, 2020).

Ethical Use in Military and Surveillance

The use of AI in military applications, such as autonomous weaponry according to Gunning, (2017) raises concerns about the misuse and lack of human control. The likelihood of armed conflict, human rights violations, and a decline in the moral standards of battle are among the many risks. 

Social Impacts    

          Customer satisfaction and service quality can be enhanced by the AI systems ability to tailor digital services and make unique experiences. As much as it is advantageous it might also have some hazards in that human interaction can be reduced by excessive automation  and therefore making it difficult to solve difficult problems on an individual level. (Trotta & Lomonaco 2023).

Conclusion

When some ethical factors are taken into consideration during the making and implementation of AI systems, a more acceptable and advantageous relationship between AI and humans is more likely to take place. Open communication and cooperation amongst the various stakeholders technologists, ethicists, policymakers, and the public is important when it comes to having a responsible and ethical AI future.

 

 References

1.      Susan Fourtane (2020). Ethics of AI: Benefits and Risks of Artificial Intelligence   Systems:     Understanding Artificial Intelligence benefits, risks, ethics, and safety is key to develop better     AI systems. Ethics of AI: Benefits and Risks of Artificial Intelligence Systems (interestingengineering.com)

2.      Trotta, A., Ziosi, M. & Lomonaco, V. (2023) The future of ethics in AI: challenges and opportunities. AI & Soc 38, 439–441. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00146-023-01644-x

3.      Gunning David, (2017) “Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI)”, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Program.