Who’s in Charge? Governance of Artificial Intelligence
In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has become deeply integrated into our daily lives. From controlling our thermostats to powering image recognition technologies, AI has completely disrupted many aspects of daily life. But who is in charge of making decisions about the development and deployment of this powerful technology? A growing field of experts is dedicated to the governance of AI – managing its wide-reaching applications to ensure it remains a force for good in society.
AI is governed by a mix of human and technological actors. Governments are a primary player in establishing policies around the technology’s use, especially when it comes to personal information security. Private AI companies are also major stakeholders in ensuring their systems align with best practices and minimize potential for misuse or abuse.
At a high level, AI governance requires understanding the legal aspects of using the technology, such as data privacy regulations, as well as the ethical implications of decision-making processes embedded within the AI itself. Ultimately, the goal is to create safeguards that address safety, fairness, liability, transparency and accountability.
One key area where this is already being applied is healthcare. As AI-enabled diagnostic tools become increasingly used in medical diagnosis, establishing parameters around how the technology is used is becoming crucial. For example, governments could pass legislation specifying guidelines for how the technology is used in decision-making and how data is collected and stored.
On the private side, there is an ever-growing AI industry standard consisting of best practices and guidelines for safely operating AI systems. This includes rules for seeking meaningful consent from those whose data is being used for training and inference purposes. Companies also self-govern by creating ethics boards to review AI products and services.
Finally, transparency is key, both from the government and private sector. Governments should provide the public with information about how laws or regulations specifically apply to AI, while private AI companies should be clear about the algorithm decisions they use and the ways in which data is collected and stored.
Overall, establishing governance over AI requires collaboration between governments, businesses, the research community, and the general public. By recognizing the risks posed by AI systems and taking the necessary steps to regulate their usage and deployment, we can ensure the technology remains a force for good in our society.