How AI Is Forcing the Tech Sector to Reflect on Ethics
AI's Gold Rush: Will Ethics Be Left in the Dust?
The AI revolution is upon us. It buzzes with promises of untold riches, ground-breaking innovation, and a future where the burdens of our daily lives might be eased. But amidst this glittering potential lie warnings – of societal divides widening, jobs vanishing, and the relentless march of technology potentially outpacing our ability to wield it responsibly.
?As the topic of AI dominates the conversation and digital media, many themes are being tossed around related to the use and impact of AI. Some of those themes promise the next great gold rush of business and economic surge leveraging the seemingly countless ways businesses and nation states can profit from this new technology.
Other themes focus on the ways that AI can bring new meaning and opportunity to the marginalized, and the physically challenged. While at the same time there are dire warnings about the threat to our social fabric making the gap between the haves and have nots even more extreme.
?Also let’s not forget the reality and actual negative impact these AI tools have on the risk of cyber-attacks, mis-information campaigns, election interference and the theft of organizational and personal information and intellectual property.
?At the very least it is clear Industry leaders, government bodies, and researchers recognize that AI has moved beyond mere hype; it has the potential to revolutionize every aspect of our lives.
?“Artificial intelligence is driving the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Some are comparing the potential of the technology involved to the creation of the Internet. We find that view to be too conservative.”
“We are completely convinced the consequences will be extraordinary and possibly as transformational as some of the major technological inventions of the past several hundred years: Think the printing press, the steam engine, electricity, computing, and the Internet, among others,” the JPMorgan.
Of course, with great opportunity comes great risk – a truth repeated throughout history. It's a warning that should give us pause, urging us to choose our path with care as we navigate the promises and perils of AI. Despite this fact, like many instances in history, commercial advantage, profit, and the ever-present shadow of greed threaten to overshadow caution. In many cases, the prevailing belief seems to be that the best defence is a strong offence.
The AI Gold Rush:
History has repeatedly shown us that when humanity is presented with an opportunity to make untold riches and gain the upper hand, we put all questions of ethics aside and madly rush forward to seize the opportunity lest our adversaries beat us to the punch.
The AI Gold Rush: Profiting from Picks and Shovels ~Nasdaq
California’s New Gold Rush: Big Tech Moves to Gain?the Edge in AI ~Bloomberg.
The stark reality is that while many people are rightfully concerned about the negative consequences there is No putting the genie back in the bottle!
We can argue the ethics all day long but the moment your competitor or adversary has access to this new technology we have no choice but to adopt and adapt it to our advantage. History shows us that personal preference or arguing artform over technology advancement is pointless.
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?The Professional IT Career Impact
If you have been keeping up with the recent articles describing the impact of AI on professional careers you are aware that while many roles will be augmented and enhanced by the use of AI many will also be replaced. Of course, technology disruption has always had this effect on global industry. Some jobs are replaced but equally true is that new opportunities emerge, and the trick is to surf the wave and not get left behind.
What sets this disruption apart is the sheer speed of job displacement. Historically, we've had a decade or two to adjust to technological shifts, allowing for a gradual rebalancing between job losses and gains. However, the adoption of AI is outpacing any previous digital disruption, fueled by a potent mix of opportunity, greed, and risk management. This unprecedented speed means job losses are far outstripping gains compared to what we've experienced before.
?AI is different because companies are integrating it into their operations so quickly that job losses are likely to mount before the gains arrive. White-collar workers might be especially vulnerable in the short-term. Indeed, commentators are describing an “AI gold rush” rather than a bubble, ~HBR
Goldman Sachs economists?said in March last year that as many as 300 million full-time jobs could be lost or diminished globally by the rise of generative AI, with white-collar workers likely to be the most at risk. ~CNN
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AI Will Transform the Global Economy. Let’s Make Sure It Benefits Humanity. ~IMF
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The interesting reality is that its knowledge workers who are most at risk during this turn of the digital disruption wheel. In a recent podcast interview between Trevor Noah and Sam Altman CEO of OpenAI Sam states that it typically takes two generations for a society to fully recover from a major technology disruption.
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So, What About the Ethics of AI?
Perhaps the most intriguing questions arising from recent tech disruptions, from social media's societal influence to AI's potential impact, revolve around ethics and appropriate use.
This is where the question "Just because we can, should we?" echoes chillingly. AI's reach raises profound ethical dilemmas:
Tech leaders are now facing grilling from governments and being held accountable for their creations. Yet, accountability has rarely been the tech industry's strong suit.
Ethics consideration is not a question that comes to our industry by nature. ?An interesting fact is that most advanced degree programs in engineering have a mandatory course of study dealing with and asking the questions of ethics and morality.
Traditional Engineering Disciplines:
Fields like civil, mechanical, or electrical engineering have a longer tradition of including ethics in their curricula. This often stems from:
However traditionally our advanced computer science degrees have not had this focus. In the early days of computing, the broad, far-reaching societal and ethical impacts of technology were not fully anticipated.
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Computer Science Degrees:
Technical Emphasis:?Computer science education has historically focused on the technical aspects of computing: algorithms, programming languages, system design, etc. The underlying assumption was that technology is neutral and the emphasis should be on developing the best tools possible.
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The Shifting Landscape:
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The Current State:
While many universities still lack dedicated ethics courses within computer science, there's a growing trend to address this issue.
This integration can occur in a few ways:
Dedicated Ethics Courses:?Some universities now offer standalone courses focused entirely on the ethical implications of technology.
Embedded Ethics Modules:?Other institutions are integrating ethical considerations as modules or discussions within existing technical courses.
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Specific Examples of this include:
Stanford University has launched the Embedded EthiCS program to integrate ethics modules into core computer science courses, recognizing the importance of ethical training for future technologists and engineers.
The University of Toronto offers CSC300H1, a course providing "a concise introduction to ethics in computing."
The University of Toronto also has the Embedded Ethics Education Initiative (E3I) aimed at developing methods to incorporate ethical considerations throughout computer science education.
The University of Waterloo requires Computer Science and Software Engineering students to take PD10: Professional Responsibility in Computing, which focuses on legal and ethical issues surrounding software development and use
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?So, What Does This Mean for Our Jobs?
?The impact on content creation and knowledge workers is alarmingly real. Industries like software development and gaming are experiencing significant disruptions. Even my own son, after completing a 4-year game design degree, narrowly avoided this fate by pivoting to a customer support role at a baking manufacturer.
The gaming industry, in particular, is hemorrhaging jobs due to both AI's influence and corporate greed – the unspoken "elephant in the room." This sentiment is reflected in the analogy of AI as "corporate Ozempic" – a tool for downsizing that companies would rather keep hidden.
The situation was further highlighted by the CEO of Larian, who published the 2023 Game of the Year, Baldur's Gate 3. He stated, "None of the companies issuing layoffs are at risk of bankruptcy, but rather risk upsetting shareholders."
The fact that our jobs are changing is not in debate the question really comes down to how do we successfully pivot during this period of disruption and land on our feet?
The need to reskill and re-train our workforce in light of AI disruption is so critical it has triggered the formation of a global consortium to study the impact of the emerging technology on jobs and to recommend specific guidance on retraining and upskilling millions of professionals.
"Leuven, Belgium, April 4, 2024 - Cisco and a group of eight leading companies including Accenture, Eightfold, Google, IBM (NYSE: IBM) , Indeed, Intel, Microsoft and SAP as well as six advisors today announced the launch of the AI-Enabled Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Workforce Consortium focused on upskilling and reskilling roles most likely to be impacted by AI. The Consortium is catalyzed by the work of the U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council’s (TTC) Talent for Growth Task Force, with the goal of exploring AI’s impact on ICT job roles, enabling workers to find and access relevant training programs, and connecting businesses to skilled and job-ready workers."
Leading Companies Launch Consortium to Address AI’s Impact on the Technology Workforce.” https://newsroom.ibm.com/2024-04-04-Leading-Companies-Launch-Consortium-to-Address-AIs-Impact-on-the-Technology-Workforce/?ftag=CMG-04-10aaa5b&utm_email=10cbbb4f9f9279efd3352de22b92345fcb5abc62424b1a99c78206c87794e149&utm_campaignid=9513218&utm_newsletterid=&medium=email&source=iterable&utm_emailid=5800702e2c9ab78c6d091c80a23342d7df3f8dd7c4c55c8e51029716c2ab4734.
?e-Book
The need to proactively re-train and upskill our workforce is the focus of a recent Pink Elephant e-book “AI Augmented ITSM” that I co-authored with my colleague Robin Hysick. https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/robin-hysick-2700252/
?AI Augmented ITSM e-book link: https://lnkd.in/gdQt2y3S
?e-Book Excerpt:
AIs Potential Is Both a Challenge and a Powerful Enabler
For the IT industry, AI's potential is a double-edged sword – a disruptive challenge and a powerful enabler. Entry-level tasks like content creation, routine coding, and basic research may face automation. This shift demands that IT professionals find their unique value proposition in areas where AI has limitations such as nuanced problem-solving, deep business-domain expertise, and building the empathetic relationships that drive true customer understanding.
The Emotional Intelligence Edge: Why Soft Skills Are the New Must-Have for IT
The landscape of AI, particularly generative AI (GenAI), is evolving at breakneck speed. New tools and models emerge constantly, reshaping possibilities seemingly overnight. Traditionally, IT professionals have thrived on technical expertise and problem-solving through technology analysis. However, as predictive analytics become increasingly automated, a critical shift is needed: the cultivation of ‘soft skills’ like empathy and emotional intelligence.
This emphasis on soft skills may seem counterintuitive for an industry known for its technical focus. It requires a mindset shift, but one essential for future success. IT professionals who fail to adapt and develop these interpersonal skills risk being left behind in the AI revolution.
Key Thoughts:
The limitations of self-service: While AI-driven tools excel at efficiency, they can fall short when dealing with emotional complexity or troubleshooting unique customer needs. IT professionals must understand where human judgment and flexibility are essential to avoid frustrating and impersonal experiences.
A balancing act: The future of ITSM lies in a hybrid model. AI will streamline common or repetitive tasks, freeing up human experts to focus on building relationships, strategic problem-solving, and providing the kind of high-touch support that builds customer loyalty.
Evolving skillsets: The successful implementation of AI in ITSM requires investment in training and development. Technical proficiency remains vital, but IT professionals will also need to hone their communication, empathy, and adaptability to thrive in an AI-augmented workplace.
?Final Question: For those readers that took advanced computer science degrees did your studies include a mandatory course of study on ethics?
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Troy Thoughts What Are Yours?
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VP, Research & Development, Author, Industry Speaker
5 个月Interesting Survey out last week from a US perspective on the trust of AI to make ethical decisions. "55% say they don’t trust AI much (23%) or at all (32%) to make unbiased decisions. Even more (62%) don’t trust it to make ethical decisions, and 45% don’t trust it to provide accurate information.?" https://today.yougov.com/technology/articles/49099-americans-2024-poll-ai-top-feeling-caution?ftag=CMG-04-10aaa5b&utm_email=10cbbb4f9f9279efd3352de22b92345fcb5abc62424b1a99c78206c87794e149&utm_campaignid=9566000&utm_newsletterid=&medium=email&source=iterable&utm_emailid=efd6ede9e492a80b1c9ca90cdb1a076e5a06879836406372397680714e308292