Filtering the ethics of AI

While AI has dominated news headlines over the past year or so, the majority of announcements and research has been around the ethics of the technology and how to manage or avoid bias in data. In April 2019, a fortnight after it was launched, Google scrapped its independent group set up to oversee the technology corporation's efforts in AI tools such as machine learning and facial recognition. The Advanced Technology External Advisory Council (ATEAC) was shut down after one member resigned and there were calls for Kay Coles James, president of conservative thinktank The Heritage Foundation to be removed after "anti-trans, anti-LGBTQ and anti-immigrant" comments, as reported by the BBC. Google told the publication that it had "become clear that in the current environment, ATEAC can't function as we wanted. We'll continue to be responsible in our work on the important issues that AI raises, and will find different ways of getting outside opinions on these topics." The big tech example Many industry experts expressed confusion at the decision and referred to Google as being naïve.