Episode 61 – From authenticity to accountability – what does ethical AI really mean?

Welcome back to Blended!

Today we're talking about AI who isn't?! But we're not talking about efficiency or data-driven decision-making – we're talking about ethics.

Gabriela Ramos, Assistant Director-General for Social and Human Sciences at UNESCO, has said that "In no other field is the ethical compass more relevant than in artificial intelligence. AI technology brings major benefits in many areas, but without the ethical guardrails, it risks reproducing real world biases and discrimination, fueling divisions and threatening fundamental human rights and freedoms."

And that's something we all have to take seriously. Whilst many organizations have been excitedly talking about the potential to be found in AI, some have been overlooking the big challenges that come along with it. As AI becomes more intelligent, with some models even taking autonomous action, questions have been raised about what it's actually saying. Job loss and displacement has been a big concern for workers. And AI's huge carbon footprint is a real issue, in a climate where most organizations are attempting to reduce emissions.

As we think about all of these different elements and more, it's clear that ethics are key to the conversations we should be having around AI, and that robust standards are crucial to ensuring healthy, scalable adoption.

So our guests will be taking a closer look today. They'll be discussing what ethical AI really means, and how ethics can differ from person to person. They'll be exploring accountability, and who's really responsible for ensuring individuals and organizations embed ethics into everything they do. And they'll be sharing their most useful resources so we can all be better educated as we move into an AI-powered future.

IN THIS EPISODE:

[01.46] Introductions to our Blended panelists.

• Giselle – Chief of Product Inclusion at ADP

• Corey – Senior Director of Growth at Mentavi health

• Noelle – CEO at AI Leadership Institute

• Lauren – Regional Head of Customer Care and Business Excellence at CMA CGM

[09.36] The group discuss what ethical AI actually means and how it can look to different people in different environments.

• Corey's experience of young adults interactions with AI – anxiety and hesitation

• Noelle's experience of integrating AI into daily life to support her child with Downs Syndrome – empowering

• The power of voice-enabled technology

• Ethics – whose are they?

• Power

• Humility

• What are the ethics of the leaders I work for?

• Fairness – meeting all needs

• Transparency

• Ownership/personal rights

• Consideration

• Data capture/collection

• Nuance of humanity

• Inclusion

• Facial recognition/photography of different skin ones

• Bias

• Cultural context

• Serving a need: "Don't build for them without them"

• The evolution of DEI

• ERGs/responsible AI teams

• Safety and security

"They could be really great little bots, doing the best they can, but also leaving destruction in their wake." Corey

"When he was born, the prognosis wasn't great, the world isn't kind to kids like this… We've integrated AI into everything to give him the ability to focus on learning one skill – the ability to communicate… And his whole world opened, because I unlocked a door that was a portal to everything." Noelle

"Ethical AI is an interesting term because I've always worked for these huge companies building very large AI systems and the ethics weren't mine. And I realized very early on that ethics, though it sounds great in practice, I'm bound by the ethics of the people I work for. That's why I now work for me!" Noelle

"I see way too many organizations just trying to build something for the sake of staying ahead and getting something out of the door to sell, and not thinking about the energy, the impact on the environment that went into it, the impact on human beings – the ramifications of all these things." Giselle

[38.43] The panel dive deeper into responsibility and accountability when it comes to ethical AI, from individual and organizational to societal and governmental.

• Governance

• Ever-changing regulations

• Compliance

• Communication

• Education

• Marketing

• Corey's experience of educating young people

• Curiosity

• Rapidly changing technology

• Open mindedness

• Money/investment

• Lauren's experience of AI at CMA CGM

• Relationships

• Intent

• Challenges in adoption of AI ethics

• UNESCOs recommendations and principles

• Feedback loop

• Awareness

• Capability to implement responsible choices

• Misunderstanding around usage

• Competitive advantage

• Control

• Internal accountability vs external accountability

• Measuring/aligning vendors to ethics

• Consumer power – holding brands accountable/sharing information

• Commoditization of AI

• AI cost and development – who stands to benefit?

• Impact of political climate

• Empathy/understanding of others

• Authenticity

"With responsible AI, if you don't implement the guidance we provide, you end up failing your customers, losing revenue, losing vendor relationships…. Responsible AI is cornerstone to growth, productivity and abundance." Noelle

[01.10.02] The group discuss how individuals can maintain and protect their energy and mental health as we increasingly embrace AI in every aspect of our lives.

• Living on autopilot

• Being conscious/present

• Finding balance

• Checking in with yourself

• Human-centric

• Fear

"As AI comes in, don't fear it – love it! Embrace it, go to training, learn how to use it, and use it to do the things you don't want to do." Lauren

[01.12.40] The group sum up their thoughts from today's discussion and share helpful resources for learning more.

RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED:

You can connect with Giselle, Corey, Noelle and Lauren over on LinkedIn.