AI Ethics for Systemic Issues: A Structural Approach

The debate on AI ethics largely focuses on technical improve ments and stronger regulation to prevent accidents or misuse of AI, with soluti ons relying on holding individual actors accountable for responsible AI devel opment. While useful and necessary, we argue that this "agency" approach disrega rds more indirect and complex risks resulting from AI's interaction with the soci o-economic and political context. This paper calls for a "structural" approach to assessing AI's effects in order to understand and prevent such systemic risks where no individual can be held accountable for the broader negative impacts. This i s particularly relevant for AI applied to systemic issues such as climate change and f ood security which require political solutions and global cooperation. To pro perly address the wide range of AI risks and ensure'AI for social good', agency-foc used policies must be complemented by policies informed by a structural approa ch.