Artificial intelligence (AI) applications are rapidly expanding, and so are the various threats they pose. From algorithms with embedded racial biases to “black box” systems that give humans no insight into an AI’s decision-making process, it’s becoming increasingly clear. AI developers need to take steps to mitigate the risks.
AI “Ethics-As-A-Service”
Google plans to roll out a new “ethics-as-a-service” initiative to customers. Similar to its Google Cloud service, where Google hosts client data in its cloud, it plans to provide “ethics-as-a-service.” This will help clients spot and fix ethical issues with their AI systems.
The service, which may launch as soon as the end of 2020, is expected to consist of training courses. These will teach how to detect AI system ethical issues and foster guidelines around AI ethics. The company may eventually provide consulting services such as audits and reviews. For example, it may inspect a financial client’s AI-enabled project. They will determine if a lending algorithm contains bias against minority groups.
However, it’s important to note that it’s not yet determined whether some of Google’s ethics services will be free. According to Brian Green, Director of Technology Ethics at the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University, providing these services for a fee may pose ethical challenges of their own. “They’re legally compelled to make money and while ethics can be compatible with that, it might also cause some decisions not to go in the most ethical direction,” Green told Wired.
Another challenge will be knowing where to draw the line in determining what’s ethical, acknowledges Tracy Frey, an expert on AI strategy in Google’s cloud division. “It is very important to us that we don’t sound like the moral police,” she told Wired.
“Embedded Ethics”
In order for AI systems and enabled devices to be truly ethical, some experts argue that ethics must be considered from the very beginning of the design process. This approach is known as “embedded ethics.” It requires AI developers to involve ethicists to create “ethical awareness” throughout all stages of a design. This is according to a recent paper published in Science Daily by researchers from the Technical University of Munich (TUM).
Meanwhile, R2 Data Labs, the data innovation arm of Rolls-Royce, has created an AI ethics framework with an “ethics-from-the-ground-up” approach. The company says organizations will be able to adopt this framework. It aims to help build trust for AI systems among the public. The soon-to-be-published findings include:
- An ethical decision-making process: This method will help developers make sure ethics is integrated in its AI decision making.
- Five-layer check system that ensures AI algorithms are trustworthy: This step-by-step process prevents bias from developing in AI systems. It also provides continuous monitoring of results.
The findings, which Rolls-Royce plans to publish sometime this year, are based on the engineering titan’s own experience with AI applications. The company says the findings have been peer reviewed by experts in a variety of industries. These include a number of large technology companies, as well as experts in government, pharmaceutical, automotive, and academia.
Understanding AI and Ethics
As AI continues to grow and integrate with various aspects of business, there’s never been a greater need for practical artificial intelligence and ethics training. IEEE offers continuing education that provides professionals with the knowledge needed to integrate AI within their products and operations. Designed to help organizations apply the theory of ethics to the design and business of AI systems, Artificial Intelligence and Ethics in Design is a two-part online course program. It also serves as useful supplemental material in academic settings.
Contact an IEEE Content Specialist to learn more about how this program can benefit your organization.
Interested in getting access for yourself? Visit the IEEE Learning Network (ILN) today!
Resources
Johnson, Robin. (3 September 2020). Rolls-Royce claims breakthroughs in artificial intelligence ethics and trustworthiness. BusinessLive.
Technical University of Munich (TUM). (1 September 2020). An embedded ethics approach for AI development. Science Daily.
Simonite, Tom. (28 August 2020). Google Offers to Help Others With the Tricky Ethics of AI. Wired.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is changing the field of education—particularly continuing education. Learning does not stop following graduation from a formal education program. Many people spend their lives learning new skills or improving on existing ones. Lifelong learning can be accomplished through in-person classes, online courses, or a hybrid of both.
Because people can learn in a variety of ways, AI is able to take learning to the next level by providing the ability to customize the experience to the individual. By tracking facial movements, microexpressions, and other behaviors, AI software can try to identify ways to keep the user engaged.
Benefits of AI in Education
The main benefits of leveraging AI in education include:
- The ability to personalize learning: Everyone is different. AI technology can help people learn in the best format for them. As a result, this can improve learning speeds and success rates. It can can also provide teachers with valuable data on student performance. This information will allow teachers to see when students are struggling. They’ll then be able to intervene early and prevent students from falling behind.
- More time for teachers: A teacher’s work does not end in the classroom. Teachers create tests, check exams and homework, and much more. By using an AI assistant for administrative tasks, a teacher can save time. That time can then be used to improve upon lesson plans and provide guidance to students.
- Remaining current with technology: In order to mitigate the learning curve, employers can make sure their staff is knowledgeable on using AI. This will also make employees feel like they are keeping up with technology rather than being replaced by it.
Drawbacks/Ethical AI Education
While there is no official definition for ethical AI, it is generally interpreted as using AI for the general good of the public.
“We’re seeing AI tools that can take lots of data around career pathways and make recommendations about what students can study. So we’ve got AI informing decisions made by young people,” says Toby Baker of Nesta.
As the use of AI continues to grow and expand into various industries, there will be an increasing number of people who will have to interact with AI without understanding how it arrives at its conclusions and predictions. Baker believes that there needs to be better communication between those who develop the technology and the end-users.
It’s also vital that the users understand how their data is being managed during the machine learning process. It could be concerning to know your facial movements are being monitored without knowing the purpose behind the tracking.
Using Artificial Intelligence Ethically
With growing questions around AI and ethics, there has never been a greater need for practical artificial intelligence and ethics training. IEEE offers continuing education that provides professionals with the knowledge needed to integrate AI within their products and operations.
Artificial Intelligence and Ethics in Design, a two-part online course program, helps organizations apply the theory of ethics to the design and business of AI systems. It also serves as useful supplemental material in academic settings.
Interested in getting the course for yourself? Visit the IEEE Learning Network (ILN) today!
Resources
Salak, Bill. (8 October 2019). 3 ways AI is changing education right now (and in the future). eSchoolNews
Courtois, Jean-Philippe. (7 October 2019). How AI is transforming education and skills development. Microsoft.
Luckin, Rose; Seldon, Anthony Seldon; Lakhani, Priya. (30 September 2019). The benefits of AI and machine learning. The Guardian.
Frank, Aaron. (24 September 2019). New AI Systems Are Here to Personalize Learning. Singularity Hub.
Freeze, James. (27 September 2019). An AI Education: Overcoming Fear Of The Innovation Cycle. Forbes.