Discover Responsible AI
A Learning Tool & Student Blog For Responsible & Human-Centric AI
Lesson 1 - Introduction to Responsible AI
Part 1 - Overview of AI Ethics
Welcome to the beginning of your journey into the world of AI Ethics. In this lesson, we will explore the intersection of artificial intelligence and ethical principles and begin to understand why this subject is not only important, but essential in the rapidly evolving landscape of AI technologies.
What is AI Ethics?
There are likely times on this site of where I (mistakenly) freely exchange the terms Responsible AI and AI ethics. The two are distinct concepts that deserve formal definitions.
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Responsible AI is generally understood as developing and using AI in a manner that agrees with ethical principles, such as transparency, accountability and fairness.
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AI ethics is a broader field that deals with all kinds of moral issues and social implications surrounding the field of AI. This includes (hypothetical) questions about what AI should or shouldn't do, the impacts of AI on society and how AI can be aligned with human values.
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In order to dive deeper into Responsible AI, it's useful to first look at the broader ideas in AI ethics, hence the existence of this section.
The Relevance of AI Ethics
I would argue that if you are here exploring this platform, then you are likely already acutely aware of the relevance of AI ethics. In the past year it seems like the discourse around AI has been non-stop, perhaps most famously the landmark release of ChatGPT by OpenAI bringing mass attention to the potential and current power of AI technology.
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In today's digital age, AI is a societal phenomenon. It influences everything from human rights to broad economic and social structures. With such a large influence on humanity, it is vital that these technologies be guided to benefit humanity while minimizing potential harm. This is particularly important as AI begins to influence decisions that were traditionally made by humans, in areas such as healthcare or law enforcement.
What's coming?
This course will explore core themes, such as AI privacy, bias, fairness, transparency, accountability, security and safety. As technology advances at a rapid pace, ethical frameworks and regulations struggle to keep up, we will explore how to navigate these evolving landscapes and anticipate future ethical challenges. As we delve further into specific topics, we will equip you with the knowledge and tools to critically engage with AI technologies from an ethical perspective.
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This lesson will focus on giving you a brief history of AI ethics and familiarize you with key terms and concepts, before diving into more complex topics in later lessons.