Microsoft researchers create AI ethics checklist with ML practitioners from a dozen tech companies

While speaking on a panel recently, Landing AI founder and Google Brain cofounder Andrew Ng described a moment when he read the OECD's AI ethics principles to an engineer, and the engineer told him the words give no instruction on how he should change how he does his job. That's why, Ng said, any code of conduct should be designed by and for ML practitioners. Well, Microsoft Research must've heard that, because it recently created an AI ethics checklist together with nearly 50 engineers from a dozen tech companies. Authors said the checklist is intended to spark conversation and "good tension" within organizations. The list avoids yes or no questions, uses words like "scrutinize," and asks teams to "define fairness criteria."