The biggest tech companies want you to know that they’re taking special care to ensure that their use of artificial intelligence to sift through mountains of data, analyze faces or build virtual assistants doesn’t spill over to the dark side.
But their efforts to assuage concerns that their machines may be used for nefarious ends have not been universally embraced. Some skeptics see it as mere window dressing by corporations more interested in profit than what’s in society’s best interests.
“Ethical AI” has become a new corporate buzz phrase, slapped on internal review committees, fancy job titles, research projects and philanthropic initiatives. The moves are meant to address concerns over racial and gender bias emerging in facial recognition and other AI systems, as well as address anxieties about job losses to the technology and its use by law enforcement and the military.
But how much substance lies behind the increasingly public ethics campaigns? And who gets to decide which technological pursuits do no harm?
Google was hit with both questions when it formed a new board of outside advisers in late March to help guide how it uses AI in products. But instead of winning over potential critics, it sparked internal rancor. A little more than a week later, Google bowed to pressure from the backlash and dissolved the council.
The outside board fell apart in stages. One of the board’s eight inaugural members quit within days and another quickly became the target of protests from Google employees who said her conservative views don’t align with the company’s professed values.
As thousands of employees called for the removal of Heritage Foundation President Kay Coles James, Google disbanded the board last week.
“It’s become clear that in the current environment, (the council) can’t function as we wanted,” the company said in a statement.
That environment is one of increasing concern that the corporate AI ethics campaigns lack teeth.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
A TOP ENERGY STRATEGIST IS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE. AND HE HAS THE DATA TO BACK THAT UP
When it comes to energy, Jarand Rystad is the numbers guy. The former McKinsey Company partner founded Oslo-based Rystad Energy, an independent research and energy intelligence company that sells data and analysis on oil, gas, coal and renewable forms of energy.
CHINA ANNOUNCES MORE SUPPORT FOR ECONOMY BUT HOLDS BACK ON MAJOR SPENDING PACKAGE
China’s economic planning agency outlined details of measures aimed at boosting the economy this week but refrained from major spending initiatives.
GOOGLE SAYS IT WILL STOP LINKING TO NEW ZEALAND NEWS IF A LAW PASSES FORCING IT TO PAY FOR CONTENT
Google said it will stop linking to New Zealand news content and will reverse its support of local media outlets if the government passes a law forcing tech companies to pay for articles displayed on their platforms.
FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE AND TIKTOK USERS IN EUROPE GET FORUM TO CHALLENGE SOCIAL MEDIA CONTENT DECISIONS
Social media users in the European Union will soon have a new forum to challenge decisions by platforms to remove posts and videos for breaking their rules or leave up others that may violate them.
'JOKER 2' STUMBLES AT BOX OFFICE AMID POOR REVIEWS FROM AUDIENCES AND CRITICS
“Joker: Folie à Deux” is the No. 1 movie at the box office, but it might not be destined for a happy ending.
CONTROL THE PATH AND POWER OF HURRICANES LIKE MILTON? FORGET IT ,SCIENTISTS SAY
Hurricanes are humanity’s reminder of the uncontrollable, chaotic power of Earth’s weather.
JUDGE RULES THE FTC CAN PROCEED WITH ANTITRUST LAWSUIT AGAINST AMAZON, TOSSES OUT FEW STATE CLAIMS
A federal judge said the Federal Trade Commission can proceed with its landmark antitrust lawsuit against Amazon. But, he also gave the company a small victory by tossing out a few claims made by states involved in the legal fight.
HYUNDAI HAS BEGUN PRODUCING ELECTRIC SUVS AT ITS $7.6 BILLION PLANT IN GEORGIA
Hyundai has begun producing electric SUVs in Georgia less than two years after breaking ground on its sprawling, $7.6 billion manufacturing plant west of Savannah.
A SPACECRAFT IS ON ITS WAY TO A HARMLESS ASTEROID SLAMMED BY NASA IN A PREVIOUS SAVE-THE-EARTH TEST
A spacecraft blasted off Monday to investigate the scene of a cosmic crash.
FEDERAL JUDGE ORDERS GOOGLE TO OPEN ITS ANDROID APP STORE TO COMPETITION
A federal judge this week ordered Google to tear down the digital walls shielding its Android app store from competition as punishment for maintaining an illegal monopoly that helped expand the company’s internet empire.