Ethics & bias: Artificial intelligence in the spotlight

It is no secret that Artificial Intelligence is having a big moment, and has the potential to transform businesses in every industry. AI systems are forecast to rake in $77.6 billion by 2022 – a 200 per cent increase on the $24 billion projected for 2018. With this colossal rise to prominence, however, there is growing scrutiny of the ethical implications of AI. As with all innovative technologies, AI has its downsides: most pressingly, the potential for bias. Just this month, 600 000 images were removed from AI database ImageNet after an art project went viral on social media after showcasing just how prejudiced the technology can be.