In November 2021, 193 international member states of UNESCO adopted the first globally valid international legal text on the ethical development and use of artificial intelligence (AI): The recommendation on the ethics of artificial intelligence. This recommendation creates a comprehensive framework for the use of AI ethics in areas such as education, culture, communication, work, science and health. It sets clear goals and targets to be implemented by the governments of UNESCO member states in relation to AI systems.
What is AI ethics?
AI ethics refers to the moral principles and practices that guide the use and development of artificial intelligence. It is basically about ensuring that intelligent technologies and AI systems are in line with the following values
- Transparency
- Justice
- Responsibility
- Security
Science and development are responsible for ensuring that artificial intelligence and its algorithms are not only technologically efficient, but also morally justifiable. Konfuzio also attaches great importance to the consideration of ethics in AI applications and emphasizes the importance of Standardized Ethics in technological progress.
Ethical principles of artificial intelligence
The so-called Principles of Ethics are an integral part of the much-discussed topic of AI. Only through documented guidelines can it be determined and measured that this new technology contributes to the well-being of society. The current guidelines include:
Transparency - The decision-making processes of AI ethics must be comprehensible and understandable. This promotes trust in the technology.
Justice - Algorithms should be designed in such a way that they do not promote discrimination and deliver fair results. This means that all data used to create AI should be free from bias and discrimination.
Responsibility - It must be clearly defined who is responsible for the actions of AI technologies. This creates opportunities for liability and accountability.
Security - AI systems must be safe and reliable in order to avoid harm to people and society and to process information reliably.
AI as applied ethics
AI Ethics is a special area of applied ethics that deals with the moral issues arising from the use of AI. Two important approaches in AI ethics are the principled approach and the particularist approach:
Principled ethical approach - This approach is based on general ethical principles that can be applied universally to all situations. Examples are those mentioned above Principles of transparency and fairness.
Particularist approach - This approach takes into account the specific circumstances of each situation and evaluates moral issues based on individual circumstances.
Both the principled and particularist approaches should be considered to ensure a comprehensive assessment of AI ethics and the associated systems.
Code of ethics - 7 indicators for trustworthy AI systems
In addition to the principles discussed, a code of ethics is also important to ensure that AI systems comply with certain standards in development and application. The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection (BMWK) has developed a code of ethics similar to that of the UNESCO Commission, ethical guidelines which comprise seven key indicators:
- Sustainability - AI systems should be environmentally friendly and conserve resources.
- Data Privacy - The Protection of personal data must be guaranteed.
- Transparency - The decision-making processes of AI must be comprehensible.
- Security - AI systems must be protected against misuse and attacks.
- Inclusiveness - AI should consider all population groups and not discriminate against individuals.
- Responsibility - It must be clear who is responsible for the actions of AI systems.
- Social benefit - AI should contribute to the benefit of society as a whole.
Definition of principles
In addition to the Indicators of the BMWK and the UNESCO recommendation on the ethics of artificial intelligence there are other, partly concurring, principles for AI ethics that serve as general guidelines for the responsible use of AI:
- Focus on people - AI systems should serve people and improve their well-being - not make it worse.
- Trustworthiness - AI systems must be trustworthy and reliable.
- Traceability - The decisions, statements and results of AI systems should be understandable and comprehensible for humans.
Organizations for AI ethics
Several organizations are committed to promoting AI ethics. The German Commission for UNESCO plays a central role in the implementation of the UNESCO recommendation on the ethics of artificial intelligence in Germany. Other important organizations are
- OECD - The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development has developed guidelines for trustworthy AI.
- IEEE - The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers is working on standards and best practices for ethical AI.
- AI Now Institute - This organization conducts research on the social implications of AI and develops guidelines for ethical AI.
Establishment in the future
The establishment of ethics in AI requires a coordinated effort at a global level. International cooperation and the development of global standards are essential. Education initiatives play a central role in raising awareness of AI and ethics. International and German-based universities, research organizations, educational institutions and the press need to be more involved in developing and communicating ethical guidelines and information. For-profit organizations must adopt transparent and responsible practices to ensure that their AI systems meet the standards of AI ethics. As of now, this also includes the Teaching AI skills in companies.
The Konfuzio manufacturer, the Helm and Nagel GmbHThe company attaches great importance to educational initiatives to promote the implementation of ethical standards in AI.
Measurability of ethical values
The measurability of ethical values in AI technologies is a complex challenge, also with regard to this topic in the teaching of education. At the University of Stuttgart, a Ethics label which is designed to help assess the ethical standards of AI systems. This label is based on a comprehensive assessment framework that takes into account various ethical indicators, including transparency, data protection and social benefit. By creating such assessment tools, companies can ensure that their AI systems are in line with ethical standards. Other university(ies) and institutions such as UNESCO & Co. also support the development of such labels to promote the measurability of ethical values in AI systems.
Impact of new AI regulations on IDP
The new AI regulations also have far-reaching implications for intelligent document processing (IDP), as offered by Konfuzio.
IDP is an area in which artificial intelligence is used to automatically extract and process data from different types of documents.
As already described in the article, these regulations aim to regulate the use of AI systems more strictly. Konfuzio is an AI-supported and advanced IDP-SoftwareThe focus is always on the applicable regulations and compliance with them as part of continuous further development measures. The new regulations also require that AI systems, including IDPs, adhere to strict data protection standards and are transparent in their decision-making processes. This means that companies must ensure that the data they process is secure and protected at all times.
The regulations therefore offer providers an opportunity to strengthen the transparency and trustworthiness of modern IDP solutions even more intensively and to make the digital transformation of companies even more secure than just a few years ago. International cooperation and the exchange of best practices are also of the utmost importance for the compliance of IDP solutions with globally uniform and highest ethical standards.
Want to know more about security and data protection at Konfuzio? Read the details or contact Contact to our experts.
Conclusion
Whether university, press, economic player or research institution: companies such as Helm & Nagel GmbH, educational institutions such as the University of Stuttgart and organizations such as UNESCO all play a key role in developing standards and training professionals who are able to put ethical principles into practice and accompany their adaptation in the promising future of AI.
The developmental progress and practical application of artificial intelligence are impressive. This still new technology offers immense opportunities, but also poses considerable ethical challenges and dangers if ignored. The UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence and the work of the UNESCO Commission are significant steps towards the ethical and responsible use of AI - in Germany and worldwide.
By establishing clear ethical principles, defining standards and promoting research, it can be measured that AI systems contribute to the well-being of society and that the values of transparency, justice, accountability and safety are respected. Educational initiatives and the international exchange of knowledge and best practices are essential to achieve the goals of AI ethics and steer the development of AI in a positive direction.
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