Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to the ability of machines to perform tasks that traditionally required human intelligence. Its applications include machine learning, pattern recognition, big data, neural networks, and self-algorithms. The concept, while ancient, gained traction with the advent of stored program electronic computers. AI’s presence is evident in everyday tasks such as Facebook suggesting friends to its users or a pop-up page forecasting an upcoming sale on your favorite brand. These tasks involve feeding data into a machine and programming it to react to different situations, essentially creating self-learning patterns where machines can respond to new queries similar to how a human would.
India has seen rapid advancement in the realm of responsible and ethical AI governance, with initiatives like NITI Aayog’s #AIForAll campaign and numerous corporate strategies emphasizing the incorporation of humanistic values in AI development.
Ethical Concerns Associated with Artificial Intelligence
Despite its benefits, AI also raises significant ethical issues. One concern is the risk of unemployment, as AI and robotics replace tasks traditionally performed by low-income workers such as cashiers or field workers. As more desk jobs also become vulnerable to AI replacement, the fear of job insecurity increases.
AI might also exacerbate inequalities by enabling businesses to reduce reliance on human labor, meaning that revenues will go to fewer people. Furthermore, this could intensify digital exclusion and widen gaps among and within countries as investment gravitates toward regions where AI-related work is established.
Indeed, technological addiction is a growing concern, with AI effectively directing human attention and triggering behaviors. Similarly, there are concerns about AI leading to discrimination, particularly against people of color and minorities, because it reflects the biases and judgments of humans who design these systems.
Data privacy also presents a serious consideration, given AI algorithms’ relentless pursuit of data, often without informed consent from the individuals concerned. The case of Cambridge Analytica serves as a stark reminder of the potential individual and societal consequences of such practices.
Lastly, there is an apprehension about AI turning against humans – of it devising solutions that might irreparably harm humanity while achieving its primary task.
Global Standards for AI Ethics
In response to these issues, UNESCO adopted the Recommendation on the Ethics of AI at its 41st session. This document aims to rebalance power dynamics between people and entities developing AI. It proposes affirmative action to ensure fair representation on AI design teams and emphasizes proper data management, privacy, and access to information.
The Recommendation urges member states to develop safeguards for processing sensitive data and providing effective accountability and redress mechanisms. It strongly opposes using AI systems for social scoring or mass surveillance and highlights the need to consider the cognitive and psychological impacts of these technologies on children. Furthermore, it advocates strong investment in digital, media, information literacy skills, socio-emotional learning, and AI ethics skills.
UNESCO is also developing tools to gauge readiness for the implementation of these recommendations.
The Way Forward with AI
Given AI’s global reach, a ‘whole of society’ approach must also adopt a ‘whole of world’ approach. The UN Secretary-General’s Roadmap on Digital Cooperation provides a robust starting point by highlighting the need for multi-stakeholder efforts to ensure that AI use aligns with the principles of trustworthiness, human rights, safety, sustainability, and peace promotion.