AI Ethics: What It Is And Why It Matters
Ethics #Ethics
Ethics
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As AI proliferates, and governments attempt to catch up in structure and law to the fast growing technology, AI Ethics has emerged as a critical topic that everyone should be aware of. So, what is AI Ethics and why does it matter?
What is AI Ethics?
Definitions vary, but in general, AI Ethics is the term given to a broad collection of considerations for responsible AI that combines safety, security, human concerns and environmental considerations. Some areas of AI Ethics include:
Why does it matter?
Experience with AI has demonstrated that following good AI Ethics is not just responsible behavior, it is required to get good business value out of AI. Ethics issues can pose business risk such as product failures, legal issues, brand damage and more.
Countries, and even cities and counties, are taking their own approaches to AI Ethics. This implies that, as a business, one needs to be aware of AI regulations at the country and even city level. Two example prominent AI related regulations are the “Right to Explanation” clause in the EU General Data Protection Regulations and the relevant portions of the California Consumer Privacy Act. At a more local level, cities in the US are making decisions about the use of algorithms, particularly those used in law enforcement. One of the largest legislative efforts in AI is the upcoming AI Act in the European Union.
As individuals from all walks of life start seeing AI in their lives and in their jobs, AI Ethics becomes a critical part of AI literacy for most people. AI Ethics is now being taught in high school and middle school as well as in Responsible AI practices in professional business courses. As laws like the AI Act become more prevalent, one can expect AI Ethics knowledge to become mainstream.