Ethics in the Age of AI
My practice focuses on advanced information technologies, and especially artificial intelligence and robotics. One of the hot topics today that we're facing is looking at the ethical and moral implications of using AI systems and robots. When people write about these topics, they're talking about things that could go wrong, or bias that might be implicit in AI systems, or ways in which AI could be attacked or misused in some way.
People are thinking of things that are right and wrong, and as a result, they're realizing that this is a serious issue worthy of constructive discussion. It’s often missed that we’re looking at the bigger picture not only of ethics but also of law and social implications. It’s important to consider these new technologies against the concept based on an acronym called ELSI: E-L-S-I, Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications. Often when people are writing about ethical issues of AI, they're really talking about the bad things that could happen to society, not being in compliance with the law, or causing damage to members of the public or to consumers that end up causing liability.
It's important to think of all of the components of ELSI at once because there are some considerations that may be ethical or not ethical, separate and apart from what's legal or illegal. Something can be ethical but illegal, or legal but not ethical, and you have to understand the differences between the two. Of course, there are many things that are unethical, and therefore the law has made them illegal. It’s important to consider as a company what is the ELSI implicit in offering these products, making or buying them, putting them into operation, and what the potential effects are once they are “in the wild”. What will be the impact on society as a whole? If we don't think about all of these factors at once, we're missing a big part of the picture. There’s an urgent need to align people of various backgrounds and disciplines to address this matter. It will require academic philosophers, professional ethicists, lawyers, sociologists, and others who are in social sciences, who could think about societal implications in these technologies.
If you’re looking to make a purchase in AI or robotics, or if you’re new to selling in these fields, let's talk together, let's identify any potential ethical, legal or societal implications, and let's work to make sure those potential issues are thoroughly addressed. SVLG is here to help, and our experienced team that specializes in AI and robotics will help you navigate the complicated waters of cutting edge technology.