Prime Minister Rishi Sunak should put ethics high on the agenda when the UK hosts the upcoming world AI Safety Summit in November, according to new research by the UK’s professional body for computing, BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT.
It has just published research that found that the vast majority (88%) of experts surveyed ahead of the Bletchley Park meeting said the UK should take an “international lead “on ethical standards in AI.
Most IT professionals surveyed (82%) also think organisations should be required to publish ethical policies on their use of AI and other high-stakes technologies.
Nearly all (90%) said a company’s reputation for ethical use of technology was key when deciding to work for them or partner with them.
That ties back to earlier BCS data that suggested nearly one in five (19%) of respondents to another BCS survey said they had faced an ethical challenge in their work over the past year.A majority (81%) said it was vital that technologists should be able to demonstrate their ethical credentials through recognised professional standards.
BCS says 24% of UK tech professionals responding said they would like to see ethical AI standards implemented most quickly across the health and care sector.
This was followed by defence (16%), criminal justice and banking (both 13%) and education (12%).
“Hosting the AI safety Summit is the UK’s opportunity to put together a global consensus on ethical use of digital technologies,” said Gillian Arnold, the professional body’s president.
“That includes asking organisations to publish ethical policies on how they create and use tech [but it] also means having safe whistle-blowing channels for experts working on areas like AI, if they feel they’re being asked to work in a way that compromises their professional standards or discriminates against a section of society.
“The public needs to have confidence that AI is being created by diverse, ethical teams as it continues to weave itself into our life and work. Agreeing global standards of responsible computing is one way of building that trust.”
Earlier this year, an open letter from BCS encouraging leaders to see AI as a force for good and not an existential threat, was signed by 1300 experts.
