AI: Hype, Fright, and the Ethical Implementation Dilemma
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a hot topic of conversation in recent years. As its capabilities continue to evolve, so too do the ethical concerns surrounding its implementation. At a panel discussion during the Reuters Thompson Momentum conference in Austin, Texas, industry leaders and experts came together to tackle the issues of managing consumer perceptions and AI experiences.
Representing the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the panel moderator highlighted the organization’s involvement in exploring the technical and practical aspects of AI through various conferences and publications. The IEEE Standards Association (SA) has also taken steps to address the ethical use of AI, releasing reports on Ethically Aligned Design of Autonomous and Intelligent Systems since 2016.
The panel consisted of Sandeep Dave, Chief Digital & Technology Officer of commercial real estate firm CBRE, Lauren Kunze, CEO of AI company ICONIQ AI, Sri Shivananda, Executive VP and CTO of PayPal, and Dr. Jesse Ehrenfeld, President of the American Medical Association.
Sandeep Dave emphasized that AI and machine learning (ML) are not new concepts and are already being employed to unlock efficiency gains and make predictions within the real estate industry. He further highlighted the potential of AI across the entire real estate lifecycle, from productivity benefits to using generative design and visualization capabilities to revolutionize the construction process.
On the other hand, Lauren Kunze cautioned against the overhype surrounding generative AI and emphasized the need for enterprises to establish clear rules when implementing this technology. She warned that a lack of understanding could lead to costly mistakes. Kunze also shared an example of her company collaborating with women’s fashion company H&M to use virtual creators on Instagram to promote real fashion products.
Sri Shivananda acknowledged the existing fear, uncertainty, and doubt surrounding AI’s implementation, stating that AI is an enabler but not an outcome in itself. He stressed the importance of trust in optimizing results and highlighted the need for a balance between harnessing AI’s power and its human implications.
Dr. Jesse Ehrenfeld shed light on the medical field’s perspective, announcing the American Medical Association’s intention to develop principles and recommendations regarding the benefits and concerns surrounding AI-generated medical advice. While embracing emerging technologies, physicians must confront issues of reliability, regulation, and public policy. Dr. Ehrenfeld also stressed that even the most advanced AI-enabled tools are still incapable of diagnosing and treating diseases.
During the discussion, the topic of trust in AI arose due to the opaque nature of some AI algorithms. These algorithms develop complex weighted models based on data patterns, deviating from traditional human reasoning methods. Building trust requires understanding AI’s decision-making processes and the usefulness of its outcomes.
To ensure ethical AI practices, IEEE has collaborated with global policymakers and introduced several standards addressing issues such as data privacy, algorithmic bias, and transparency in autonomous systems. The IEEE SA is also exploring third-party certification of AI practices aligned with evolving standards.
While AI holds immense potential, the panel also highlighted caveats. Sandeep Dave mentioned the significant costs associated with AI deployment, particularly its potential impact on an organization’s sustainability goals due to the energy consumed in training complex models.
Overall, the panel discussion provided a balanced perspective on the hype, fright, and ethical considerations surrounding AI implementation. Recognizing the benefits and limitations of AI, as well as addressing concerns regarding trust and transparency, will be crucial in harnessing its true potential while ensuring ethical use.
(Note: The generated article is an AI-generated response and should be reviewed and edited by a human writer before publishing.)
