Principles over Populism: A Good Start for Ethics in AI

Google's declaration of principles for AI is a short but carefully worded text covering the main issues related to the uses of its technology. It is worth reading the document, given that it raises many about the future and the rules we will need to guide us as it evolves. The regulation of artificial intelligence is far from a new subject and is being debated widely; and Google, as a leading player in the field, is simply laying out its position after a long process of reflection. The company had been working on the statement of principles for some time, while it continues to work in other areas of AI. In the wake of revelations about Google's involvement in Maven, most media have interpreted the company's statement of principles somewhat simplistically, along the lines of a promise that its AI won't be used to develop weapons or in breach of human rights, although it is clear that the document has much more far-reaching intentions.