Formulating AI norms: Intelligent systems and human values ORF

In recent years, various governments, international organisations, civil society groups and technology companies have issued documents outlining their principles around the development and use of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Yet, the world appears to be no closer to a universal set of AI norms. This brief suggests a rethinking of how AI norms should be formulated and outlines key lessons. First, technology firms reflect certain human biases that do not do justice to their global consumer base and make them unsuitable to lead the setting of AI principles. Second, while norms are ambiguous by design, the misuse of this ambiguity by actors to justify rights violations sets a dangerous precedent. Third, no single regulation can account for the consequences of the same AI application deployed in different contexts.