Industry standards won't give artificial intelligence a conscience

Toyota unveil a self-driving car in 2013. Image: David Berkowitz (CC BY 2.0) (CC BY 2.0) From the algorithms used by social media platforms to the machine-learning that powers home automation, artificial intelligence has quietly embedded itself into our lives. But as the technology involved grows more advanced and its reach widens, the question of how to regulate has become increasingly urgent. The pitfalls of AI are well-documented. Race and gender prejudices have been discovered in a number of systems built using machine learning – from facial recognition software to internet search engines. Last week, the UK's Digital, Culture, Media and Sport select committee released its long-awaited fake news report.