Gartner sounds the alarm on AI ethics

Gartner has released a Predicts 2021 research report  that outlines the serious, wide-reaching ethical and social problems it predicts artificial intelligence (AI) to cause in the next several years.

The report's predictions signal the scale and severity of ethical issues surrounding the use of AI, as well as the essential actions that businesses will soon need to take to manage compliance and risk as they become increasingly AI-driven.

• By 2023, 50% of chief digital officers in enterprises without a chief data officer (CDO) will need to become the de facto CDO to succeed.
• By 2024, 60% of AI providers will include harm/misuse mitigation as a part of their software
• By 2025, 75% of workplace conversations will be recorded and analysed for use in adding organisational value and assessing risk

It’s with these concerns in mind that we launched our new Ethics in Technology Assessment (ETA) late last year to help businesses safeguard stakeholders from the ethical risks associated with technology. 

Over six weeks, we’ll work with you to collect information about your current approach to ethics in technology. Using our ETA framework, we analyse the information to produce a report with our assessment of your current state, as well as short- and long-term recommendations to address the key areas that present risks.  

The assessment is designed to provide a high-level but rounded view of the state of digital ethics in your organisation. The framework consists of five building blocks:                                                                                                                                                                                                        

• Use of data: This goes beyond regulatory compliance to fair practices in handling and managing clients’ data  
• Fairness in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and algorithms: Guidance and embedded good practice in the use of AI and algorithms  
• Democratisation of digital skills: Removing the fear of unknown complex technology by making product information and learning accessible to interested parties and clients  
• Employee enablement: Employee engagement and understanding of new technologies, and levels of corporate handholding to enable them to do their jobs better, and use advanced technologies considerately and productively  
• Culture and mindset: The extent of adoption of ethical digital practices across the organisation, from leadership teams making strategic decisions, to employees working in front- and back offices. 

At the end of the six-week period you’ll get an actionable and impartial assessment of where you are in your journey to being a digitally ethical business, as well as clarity on what to do to improve and/or mitigate risks. 

Technology vendors are already seeing the need for ETA, with their clients having started to ask questions about their algorithms and use of data. We are delighted to welcome WorkFusion, one of the most innovative vendors in the Intelligent Automation space, onboard to take part. 

Head to the service page for a more in-depth outline, or get in touch to find out more about getting started on your ETA programme.