10 Questions to Ask About AI Ethics and Compliance
As per a recent study, about 77% of devices in use have some form of artificial intelligence (AI). In the future, AI is expected to grow rapidly at an impressive rate of 36.6% between 2024 and 2030.
But is such an increasing use of AI safe? Most experts believe AI is powerful but it must be used in a fair and ethical way. Companies and legal teams must ensure that AI helps people without causing harm or breaking rules.
However, as an AI enthusiast, how can you be assured that:
AI is fair
AI respects privacy
AI generates unbiased responses
AI is safe to use
In this article, let’s check out ten important questions related to the responsible use of AI.
1. Is AI being used to benefit society
AI should actively help people. For example, AI in healthcare can help doctors diagnose diseases faster. However, if AI is used for unfair surveillance or spreading misinformation, it can harm society.
Thus, companies must ensure that their AI projects support ethical values and contribute to the greater good. The goal should be to create AI that benefits everyone, not just a few.
2. How is data collected and used
AI needs data to function, but it is important to ask whether the data is collected fairly and legally. Here a few concerns are:
Are people giving permission for their data to be used?
Is the company following laws to protect privacy?
Even beyond legal rules, AI should not use personal data in ways that could harm people. For example, if AI collects private health information without consent, it could be a serious ethical issue.
3. Does the AI have built-in biases
AI learns from data. Now, if the data contains biases, the AI can continue those biases or make them worse.
For example,
Say a hiring AI is trained on data where men were historically favoured for promotions. This may unfairly reject female candidates.
Hence, companies must test AI for bias and take steps to fix any unfairness. Also, bias in AI is not just an ethical problem. It can lead to lawsuits and damage a company’s reputation.
4. Is there human oversight of AI
AI should not work without humans keeping an eye on it. There should be rules and processes to check AI’s decisions. If no one monitors AI, it might make harmful or unfair decisions without anyone noticing.
For example,
Say an AI system rejects loan applications unfairly. Here, a human should be able to step in and fix the issue.
Please note that having proper oversight reduces risks and ensures AI is used responsibly.
5. How does AI affect jobs
AI can increase business productivity, but it can also replace human workers. By the end of 2025, it is believed that AI might eliminate 8.5 crore jobs!
Here, companies must analyse if some jobs disappear, can workers be retrained for new roles? Ethical businesses should not just focus on profits but also on helping employees adjust to changes.
Moreover, a company using AI should have a plan to support workers, such as
Offering training for new skills
or
Moving them to different roles instead of simply letting them go.
6. Can AI be checked for mistakes
AI must be held accountable for its actions. If AI makes a mistake or a biased decision, it should be possible to track what went wrong.
For example,
If AI is used in hiring and unfairly rejects certain candidates, a company should be able to review the system and correct any biases.
There should be regular audits to ensure AI stays ethical and follows laws.
7. Are we thinking about AI’s long-term effects
AI can bring many benefits, but it’s important to consider its future impact. Some concerns here are:
Will it take away jobs?
Could it increase inequality by favouring certain groups over others?
Can it be misused for surveillance or control?
Businesses should not only focus on short-term gains but also on how AI affects society in the long run.
8. How do we handle AI mistakes
No AI system is perfect, and mistakes will happen. The key questions here are:
How are those errors handled?
Is there a process to fix AI failures quickly?
Are companies transparent when AI makes mistakes, or do they try to hide them?
For example, if a medical AI gives incorrect diagnoses, there must be a system to catch and correct errors before they cause harm.
9. Are we reviewing AI ethics regularly
AI ethics is not a one-time decision. It must be checked continuously. Companies should regularly review their AI systems to ensure they are still ethical and fair.
For example,
Say an AI system was fair today. However, it might develop biases over time as it learns from new data.
Thus, businesses should regularly make ethical reviews to keep AI aligned with societal values.
10. Can people understand how the AI system works
AI should not be a "black box" where no one knows how it makes decisions. You need to ask if AI’s decisions can be explained clearly. For example, say, an AI system installed by a leading NBFC rejects a loan application. Now, can you trace back the reason?
If people do not understand how AI works, they may not trust it. A lack of transparency can also create legal issues. Thus, AI should be made transparent so that it ensures fairness in how it is used.
Conclusion
AI is changing the world, but it must be used responsibly. Companies must ensure AI is ethical and transparent. This would mean:
Reducing bias
Protecting privacy
Keeping human oversight in place
Also, there should be regular checks and updates to prevent AI from making harmful mistakes. Whether in finance, healthcare, or online marketplace, AI should improve lives and not create problems.