Recently, the White House has released the Bill of Rights for Artificial Intelligence, outlining crucial principles to govern the deployment and use of artificial intelligence. I applaud this move because it is needed at this time with over 14,700 artificial intelligence startups in the United States alone as of March 2023
These principles are gradually being embraced as the universal blueprint. The education sector is not left out. This is why it's important for school owners and educators to understand the implications and application of this bill. The key principles are
- Safe and Effective Systems: Education stakeholders should be protected from unsafe or ineffective systems. When tech companies are creating artificial intelligence tools, diverse education communities, stakeholders, and experts should be consulted. Other education stakeholders should not adopt tech tools that have not done due diligence in the aspect of safety. Artificial intelligence tools should be inclusive. School owners should stay informed about the latest advancements and adopt tech tools that align with these safety standards.
- Algorithmic Discrimination Protections: Education stakeholders should not face discrimination by algorithms. Systems should be used and designed in an equitable way. This means that the AI tools adopted should leave no student or educator behind. Regular assessments of the tech tools algorithms and proactive measures against bias are essential to foster an inclusive learning environment.
- Data Privacy: Education stakeholders should be protected from abusive data practices via built-in protections and should have control over how data about you is used. Developers and implementers of technology tools should ask for your approval and respect your choices regarding your data to the best extent feasible. If it's not possible, they should use alternative privacy measures designed to protect your information.Any consent requests should be brief, be understandable in plain language. Implementing stringent data protection protocols is crucial to maintaining the trust of students, parents, and the education community.
- Notice and Explanation: Education stakeholders should know that an automated system is being used and understand how and why it contributes to outcomes that impact them. Developers and school owners ( and other implementers) should provide easy-to-understand information about how any AI tool works, clear descriptions of the process and vivid explanations of the results. This information should be regularly updated, and if there are important changes, stakeholders should be told. Transparent communication is key.
- Human Alternatives, Consideration, and Fallback: Education stakeholders should be able to opt out, where appropriate, and have access to a person who can quickly consider and remedy problems they encounter. Educators and school owners should not rely solely on AI and should be prepared with human-centric alternatives. This principle encourages a balanced approach, leveraging technology while preserving the irreplaceable human touch in education.As the education sector embraces AI, understanding the AI Bill of Rights is important. By prioritizing its principles; Safe and Effective Systems, Algorithmic Discrimination Protections, Data Privacy, Notice and Explanation, and Human Alternatives, Consideration, and Fallback, education stakeholders can use technology tools responsibly and ethically.What are your thoughts on the Bill of Rights? As an education stakeholder, share your opinion.
