IT'S ABOUT
In the age of rapid technological advancement, digital humanism reminds us to put the 'human' back in 'humanity,' cultivating integrity, inclusivity, and responsible AI progress.
As artificial intelligence evolves, we need to reimagine its purpose - not just driving innovation, but advancing societal well-being and environmental sustainability. AI should enhance human intelligence, complementing supporting ethical decision-making and augmenting, rather than replacing, our cognitive faculties.
7 PILLARS FOR TRUSTWORTHY AI
*ACCORDING TO THE EU’S ETHICS GUIDELINES FOR TRUSTWORTHY AI, APRIL 2019
Bias refers to systematic errors or prejudices that can skew the outcomes of an AI system, often reflecting societal inequalities. Fairness aims to ensure AI treats all individuals and groups equitably, reducing discrimination and promoting justice.
This principle focuses on safeguarding personal data and ensuring that users’ information is not exploited or accessed without consent. Privacy protection is essential for maintaining trust and respecting individuals’ rights to confidentiality.
Explainability is the ability to understand and interpret how an AI system makes its decisions. This helps users and stakeholders comprehend the reasoning behind AI outcomes, fostering transparency and accountability.
Accessibility ensures that AI systems are usable and beneficial for all people, regardless of abilities, backgrounds, or technical knowledge. It promotes inclusivity by designing technology that everyone can engage with and benefit from.
Accountability means that those developing or deploying AI are responsible for its impacts, while transparency requires openness about how AI systems work. Together, these principles support ethical use by making AI operations visible and holding creators answerable.
Reliability refers to the consistency and dependability of an AI system’s performance. A reliable AI functions as expected, providing accurate and stable results even under different conditions or over time.
This principle ensures that AI systems are protected against threats and malicious attacks, minimising risks to users. Safety focuses on preventing harm from AI operations, while security safeguards data and system integrity.
AI is a transformative force with the potential to revolutionise our society and environment. In healthcare, AI can support diagnostic accuracy, while in environmental science, it can support sophisticated modelling to predict and mitigate the effects of climate change.Â
However, its integration into real-world contexts must be underpinned by ethical AI standards. A human-centred, responsible approach is essential to ensure that technological advancements align with societal values and contribute to long-term wellbeing.