AI (artificial intelligence) is an amazing tool to improve efficiency and speed up processes but when not used properly can cause more damage than good. With this in mind, how can companies ensure that they’re using AI ethically and responsibly? Christophe Bourguignat, CEO & co-founder of Insurance tech provider Zelros, lists his top 4 things that companies need to know to ensure that they’re using AI ethically and responsibly in 2022.
Tip #1: Biases in AI are not always where you think they are
When most people look for biases in AI, it’s usually focused on unbalanced training data. For example, if there are more men than women who are represented in the dataset, or vice versa. This isn’t the only place where an AI bias can happen though: it can also be when an AI algorithm is used outside of the content it was initially created for. For example, a product that is specifically built for farmers wouldn’t have factory workers or business executives represented. This isn’t AI bias, but design bias.
Tip #2: Have a diverse team
Left unchecked, human biases can find their way into datasets, corrupting the decision making process that the system uses to generate solutions. Having a team that is diverse brings diverse thoughts and opinions, ethnic and cultural backgrounds, ages, etc. will not only challenge ideas, but can catch biases before they’re implemented into your AI system. Having a diverse team truly makes the difference when striving for a stronger Ethical AI framework, especially when ensuring the avoidance of Simpson Paradoxes.
Tip #3: Use bias bounties
One way to detect biases and discrimination in AI is to use bias bounties to catch bad data, avoiding further deviation of the analytics. Bias bounties are implemented to reward users for identifying bias in AI systems. These biases happen as a result of incomplete data or existing bad data that can lead to an AI that is unethical. Several major companies are using bias bounties in 2022 as a way to ensure their AI systems are as ethical and robust as possible. It’s an easy and relatively inexpensive way to get more diverse thought processes to look at and review your AI.
Tip #4: Cultivate responsible AI at every level of your company
Having responsible AI at all levels within an organisation is a necessity, especially now in 2022. Before, organisations could get by with just having it in their technical R&D or research teams involved, who would then communicate downward to their customers and partners. With the ever changing landscape of responsible AI use, this is an area where no compromises can be made.
