Artificial intelligence (AI) is undoubtedly one of the most important technological concepts of our age – and perhaps the history of the world as we know it. While still very much in its infancy, it has already been shown to have a significant effect on the lives of individuals and the trajectories of companies across the world, from changing the way we relate with devices to transforming how data is being handled.
However, as this concept continues to be embedded deeper into our daily lives, there are a lot of ethical questions being asked about its use and potential going forward.
Recently, the world was introduced to ChatGPT – an incredibly powerful and intuitive AI-based tool. Companies immediately jumped at the opportunity to incorporate it into their operations. However, experts have also raised concerns about the implications of technologies like this in the long run.
For developers who use AI, there is a question of what lengths they should be allowed to go to as they search for greater operational efficiency. And for users, it is important to understand the limitations and how to protect yourself from overexposure to this technology.
Ethics, Technology, and AI
With the technology landscape expanding significantly over the past few years, there have been more questions being asked about ethics – especially as it relates to companies in the space.
Ethics is the discipline of philosophy that concerns morals and values. It determines what is right and wrong, what is acceptable in practice and what steps over the line. Every day, humans and companies toe that fine line between good and evil.
When it comes to technology, we have to apply ethics slightly differently to how we judge humans. Fundamentally, technology and AI ethics are grounded in algorithms and code – which aren’t influenced in any way by human emotions. Codes and algorithms operate based on set rules, and they are only as accurate as the data they are provided.
The Importance Of Responsibility With AI
As stated earlier, AI is a transformative technological concept that can easily change the way we live and work.
However, with so much power, it has become increasingly important to move with caution and responsibility. Any slight issue with this technology – which, by the way, is still in its infancy, could have significant repercussions.
For example, some people might use AI to improve their chances of winning while playing poker online. Apart from being considered unethical, if detected by the casino it could result in your account being closed and any winnings being confiscated. In this case, you are better off checking out https://www.ignitioncasino.eu/poker/how-to-play for tips on how to improve your game.
Already, experts have raised concerns about AI’s privacy implications – as well as issues such as discrimination and transparency. For instance, facial recognition has already been flagged for the possibility of negatively impacting underprivileged populations.
At the moment, AI is only as effective as the data it is fed. If this data has a bias or defect, the system will inherit this deficiency and pretty much run with it, thus providing unfair results that can have significant negative effects on users.
Of course, this isn’t to say that AI is all bad. For instance, we have chatbots that assist healthcare providers with offering personalized care and service. AI is also being used to improve tasks such as writing and content development, and can be used to detect and prevent cyberattacks.
All of this goes to show that while the trajectory of these technologies is promising, it is also not without its concerns. Players in this space should not ignore the possible concerns and potential for unforeseen circumstances. If AI is truly to be one of the pillars of our technological future, then we need to ensure that the technology is truly able to operate in said future – without any risks, and within set parameters.
Maintaining Ethics In The AI Space
At the moment, all stakeholders need to come to the table to discuss the potential hazards and benefits of AI going forward. As explained earlier, this technology comes with its inherent benefits and risks – and by recognizing both, it will be easier for all players to find common ground and present a unified front concerning how the technology should be adopted.
From tech firms to governments and nonprofits, there is a lot of work to be done concerning building a set of unified and accepted rules to guide the future of the AI space.
It is also worth noting that some progress has been made already. For instance, the European Commission issued guidelines for trustworthy AI operations back in 2019, mandating that systems are transparent, accountable, and fair.
Companies like Microsoft, IBM, and Google have also published ethics standards to govern the use of artificial intelligence going forward. These standards address issues such as discrimination, opacity, and more. As the space continues to grow, it is important to keep reviewing these standards to ensure that the excesses of AI can be properly checked.
