DOD releases first AI ethics principles, but there's work left to on implementation -- FCW

The Defense Department has officially adopted a set of principles to ensure ethical artificial intelligence adoption, but much work is needed on the implementation front, senior DOD tech officials told reporters Feb. 24. The five principles [see sidebar], which are based on the recommendations of the Defense Innovation Board's 15-month study on the matter, represent a first step and generalized intentions around AI use and adoption including being responsible, equitable, traceable, reliable, and governable. DOD released the principles during a news briefing Feb. 24. Those AI ethical guidelines will likely be woven into a little bit of everything, like cyber, from data collection to testing, DOD CIO Dana Deasy told reporters. "We need to be very thoughtful about where that data is coming from, what was the genesis of that data, how was that data previously being used and you can end up in a state of [unintentional] bias and therefore create an algorithmic outcome that is different than what you're actually intending," Deasy said.