Viva la AI

Interoperability…?One of the most important words in the digital world. While most of you who read my blog appreciate that the internet is free of cumbersome governance, you also recognize that our networks must communicate with one another. In other words, we must agree on a few “rules for the road” so the information continues to flow freely. I want my computer to talk to yours if I ask it to do so, and I want the conversation to be safe and productive. A little bit of shared governance is important, isn’t it? Interoperability presupposes we agree on some basic rules and play by them.

But what about AI governance? Currently governments near and far wrestle with the right way to put some reins on AI. The EU, for example, continues to build AI regulations into the GDPR, the General Data Projection Regulation. In the US, the Biden administration proposes government regulations on the propagation and use of AI, seeking commitments of partnership from the leaders of the top tech companies. There’s understanding among policymakers and businesses alike that some form of AI governance is needed right now. From my viewpoint there are two essential pieces in any approach to AI governance: Ethics and Democratization.

Distrust permeates public conversation on the expansion of AI. Even novice internet users encounter AI in customer service apps, predictive typing, and the like, realizing that AI interfaces inundate daily life. So, the questions mount. What will AI do with my data? Can it be trusted? How many jobs will be lost to AI? While good governance may not answer all our AI questions, it can build some trust by offering and constantly updating an AI Code of Ethics. If widely shared by governments and businesses, the Code could provide some “digital bumpers” to keep us safe and keep our private lives private.

A word about democratization of AI. Well, three… I support democratization. We are in our AI infancy. We have so much to learn about its power, potential, and limitations. The more skin we have in the game of AI, the more we can leverage it to do some good in the world. We need great minds and clever end users experimenting with AI. If only accessible in the fortress of government or the wealth of big companies, AI will have a narrow focus and may, possibly, deepen the divide between rich and poor, powerful and weak. When placed alongside a thorough Code of Ethics, democratized AI can enhance quality of life for all.

We live in exciting times my friends. Viva la AI.

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