The future of AI is on the horizon: insight from Davos 2017, World Economic Forum

AI is a hot topic at Davos for the second year running. But this year we are learning how the recent advancements in the space such as robotics, algorithms and breakthroughs such as AlphaGo, will transform the human ecosystem of business.

Jessi Hempel, head of editorial at Backchannel and former senior writer at WIRED hosted a panel discussion yesterday at WEF17, on 'Balancing Opportunity and Responsibility' with thought leaders in the space: Devin Wenig, CEO of eBay; Dr. David Hanson, CEO of Hanson Robotics; Paul Daugherty, Chief Technology and Innovation Officer Accenture.

Here is some insight on the future of AI from these thought leaders:

Devin Wenig, CEO of eBay

Wenig focussed his commentary on AI around the way that eBay could benefit from it. He states, “breakthroughs and very practical uses of AI are changing our business [eBay] and the lives of their customers such as small businesses and entrepreneurs”. His core point is that a “combination of big data and computing power" has enabled things like targeting and self-improving databases such as block chain.

In a bid to change the way that we think about AI he states that “AI is not a feature - it’s a platform”. Devin challenges us to consider looking back in history at former platforms such as the steam engine, the personal computer and the Internet commenting that “AI is likely to be the next great horizontal platform”. Further Devin states that the positive and negative impacts of AI focussed around jobs and a concentration of power need to be discussed now, which is why he suggests it is being covered at Davos.

When Hempel questioned what people are going to need in the future to succeed in AI, he commented that most importantly we need “entrepreneurial skills and STEM education in our schools as these skills are scarce and in demand”. He challenges “how do we use AI to create a humanistic future, not a cold and robotic future?” and states that “AI can contribute to job growth and not just eliminate jobs”.

Devin concludes that there is a "moral imperative to ensure that there is a seamless transition to this economy [AI]". eBay is involved in open AI and Devin states that the "general AI should be owned by everyone and it should be managed as a society. It is key that leaders in the tech place play a responsible role in this debate now. After all, he concludes, "what is the ultimate role of machines vs. humanity?"

Dr. David Hanson, CEO of Hanson Robotics

Hanson states that AI could “profoundly change the world economy” because you can apply it to almost every industry because the necessary infrastructure is available to support it. He goes on to claim that intelligent algorithms will in time, “change the world in ways that are profound”.

Questioning if technology could provide new jobs at a pace that can enable people to feel fulfilled, Hanson states that it is our “responsibility to ease the transition to AI - the focus is on increasing efficiency”. Being sensitive to the human aspect is key as we have a responsibility to find “ways to ease the transition for people, redistribute the wealth and figure out a way for universal basic income”. Hanson questioned how can we could use AI for greater social good? Such as opportunities for entrepreneurs on platforms like eBay, because greater efficiency would generate more opportunities. He stated “creativity” is needed when thinking about restructuring what work is: “AI today is often depersonalised…we are trying to figure out how to adapt to the technology rather than adapt the technology to us”. Thus he continues, if we can get AI to adapt to make an “emotional connection with humans" it will deliver more value and more aspects of humanity.

To capitalise on AI, Hanson states that “design skills and creative thinking about design" will be in greater demand. He warns the industry however that designers and businesses must have an "ethical and moral prerogative" to make the technology meet people on "human terms". Hanson also states that “AI is disrupting the way that we access information and delivering us information that was inaccessible before”. So perhaps in some instances we need not consider job displacement, but look at the opportunities that AI can innovate. However to ensure diversity, company leaders have to make opportunities and select diversity in the workforce. Concluding, Hanson states that we need to "create a future of hope instead of despair”.

Paul Daugherty, Chief Technology and Innovation Officer Accenture

AI is being discussed at Davos, according to Daugherty, due to the recent advancements in the space linked to parallel concerns about “automation destroying jobs and creating economic uncertainty”. This is an exciting time for AI as we are able to take what he calls a "human-centered approach" creating "technology for people". For example at Accenture they have “automated 17% of the business and redeveloped the people to higher value add roles in supporting the business”. Moving forwards he advises that we need to consider the potential in the space and look at how to "augment and enhance" what humans are doing with AI.

Work is “money and meaning” for humans so Daugherty states that it is imperative that businesses ensure that there is a seamless transition to an approaching AI economy. Davos has considered the skill set required to move into this new economy, discussing whether we teach more engineering coding or more arts. Daugherty states that "equal access to the right education is needed to fuel this growth”.

Commenting on the status of open AI, Daugherty adds that companies need to rethink their strategy in the future, considering the scope for a role such as a ‘Chief AI Officer’ or ‘Chief Ethics Officer’. He highlights the five key principles that we need to think about in relation to AI that are currently being discussed at Davos:

1. Accountability
2. Transparency
3. Honesty
4. Fairness
5. A ‘human-centred’ approach

So do we need new senior roles in business to think about these things?

Jessi Hempel, panel host questioned, "how do we consider the development side of AI? How do we ensure that we have the diversity of opinions, thoughts, geography and gender so that we can get the diversity out of the other side of the AI?". Daugherty, having recently joined the board of Girls Who Code, states that this is a wider issue with diversity as there are now “less female graduates with computer science degrees than there have been previously in the late 80’s dropping from 37% to 19%”. So, he concludes that there is a wider obligation to have the best solutions to diversity problems, ahead of bringing AI into the mix.

Overall the discussion has sparked debate on a range of different topics. And the more you consider AI, the more talking points arise. So what do we consider next? A range of questions spring to mind such as: how will AI change the landscape of business? How do we ensure that society takes a human focussed approach to AI? What core skills will future generations need to capitalise on AI?

To watch the full debate, sponsored by Accenture and WIRED at WEF17 click: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyJBgYAcBLs

What do you think about the discussion? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.