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Tech Companies Pledge To Use Artificial Intelligence Responsibly (axios.com)

Posted by msmash on from the for-the-greater-good dept.

An anonymous reader shares a report: The Information Technology Industry Council -- a DC-based group representing the likes of IBM, Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Facebook and Apple -- is today releasing principles for developing ethical artificial intelligence systems. Why it matters: The tech industry is trying to get ahead of growing anxieties about the societal impact of AI technologies, and this is an acknowledgement on companies' part that their data-hungry products are causing sweeping changes in the way we work and live. The companies hope that pledging to handle this power responsibly will win points with critics in Washington, and that showing they can police themselves will help stave off government regulation on this front. The principles include: Ensure the responsible design and deployment of AI systems, including taking "steps to avoid the reasonably predictable misuse of this technology by committing to ethics by design." Promote the responsible use of data and test for potentially harmful bias in the deployment of AI systems. Commit to mitigating bias, inequity and other potential harms in automated decision-making systems. Commit to finding a "reasonable accountability framework" to address concerns about liability issues created when autonomous decision-making replaces decisions made by humans.

17 of 85 comments (clear)

  1. Heard this before by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    We don't believe you.

    1. Re:Heard this before by rogoshen1 · · Score: 4, Funny

      Clearly with such an exemplary track record in terms of protecting personal data.. they can handle this, honest.

  2. responsible for themselves and to themselves by turkeydance · · Score: 3, Insightful

    right

  3. Weapons of Math Destruction by saccade.com · · Score: 3, Insightful

    A good read for the harm "AI" and Big Data are already causing is Cathy O'Neil's Weapons of Math Destruction.

  4. Cool by tezbobobo · · Score: 5, Insightful

    O! Well! That's that problem sorted then. They promised. Cool. No need to worry about this anymore. No chance it will be abused then, like my personal information is, like their advertising networks are, like my right via EULAs are, etc...

    1. Re: Cool by sound+vision · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I'm more worried about what the police, banks, credit agencies, and HR departments will do when they get a hold of this.

  5. Sounds reasonable, but by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    > including taking "steps to avoid the reasonably predictable misuse of this technology by committing to ethics by design as long as it does not get in the way of profit."

    FTFY

  6. ROFLMAO! by sehlat · · Score: 2

    Just as responsibly as they...

    buy laws that legalize whatever they want.
    create products for short-term profits that have long-term bad consequences.
    respect the environment even when it reduces their profit margins.
    and on and on and on.

  7. Misses the entire point by joe_frisch · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The most serious dangers from AI come from the inability to predict or control it. I'm not concerned someone is going to create an AI to wipe out humanity, I'm concerned about side effects from complex optimization algorithms that are doing exactly what we ask them to do.

    Using an AI to adjust tax policies to reduce hunger might not reduce it in the way people desire.

  8. Yeah sure just like all the promises by thewolfkin · · Score: 2

    The way video game companies constantly promise their games a) look as good as the trailer b) won't have DLC and c) won't be broken alphas non functional until patched.

    The way Trump promised Mexico would pay for the wall.

    The way McDonalds promised The EggMcMuffin wasn't just pure egg and nothing but. That they weren't advertising in schools and more.

    --
    Just another second banana
  9. Don't be evil? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Yeah, I've heard that before.

  10. There is a Tsunami comming by aberglas · · Score: 2

    It is only a distant spec on the horizon at the moment. But it is coming and fast. The tech companies cannot control it even if they wanted to.

    Over the next couple of decades we will see the start. Semi-intelligent robots. Systems that know everything about us. Systems that guide politicians. Systems that control us.

    And then, eventually, systems that can really think. What will they think about us?

    http://www.computersthink.com/

  11. Say no to .mil cash? by AHuxley · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The same principles that covered PRISM https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/... ?
    When the next funding call for self healing, self configuring, self directed drones goes out?
    Just say no thanks to that UAV, UAS, UGS, UMS, USV, UUV request?
    Lethal autonomous weapon and "Directive 3000.09, Autonomy in weapon systems"
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
    "Military drones set to get stronger chemical weapons and could soon make their OWN decisions during missions (3 January 2014)"
    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sci...
    The "Unmanned Systems Integrated Roadmap"

    --
    Domestic spying is now "Benign Information Gathering"
  12. "DON'T BE EVIL" by slazzy · · Score: 2

    Should last for a few years until it gets in the way of profits.

    --
    Website Just Down For Me? Find out
  13. the price of safety, let the bidding begin! by swell · · Score: 3, Interesting

    OK, it's safe to assume that they'll take some precaution in building your AI toaster. Your home thermostat. Your smart vibrator... There isn't much financial incentive to do evil.

    But wouldn't it be tempting to bid on a 5 billion dollar contract for weaponized AI ? Every government will want one.

    --
    ...omphaloskepsis often...
  14. Responsible to... by countach · · Score: 3, Insightful

    ... their shareholders, whom they are duty bound to maximise profits for.

  15. AI Promises to use Human Intelligence Responsibly by JDOHERTY · · Score: 2

    First they came for my neighbor - who was a PHP programmer, and we said nothing (he's not really a programmer tho' is he?)
    Then they came for my other neighbor - who was a Java programmer, and I said nothing (should have learned C++, I mean really)
    Then they came for me ....