An Ethics Board might not be the [whole] answer

The first question I usually get from my clients is “we’ve got a set of AI/Data Ethics Principles, so now what?” My response is that you use them to make the right decisions where that’s possible and positively manage the dilemmas where it’s not. Sounds simple, so why do so many organisations find this so challenging?

When I arrive at an organisation, they will often have made an attempt at adopting responsible-use, and perhaps be frustrated that their approach hasn’t worked. Some histories turn up more often than others, have a look and see which ones you recognise:

The new department: a brand new department was created full of energy and enthusiasm, but they seemed to hit the same old walls.

The ethics board: Existing leaders were shuffled into a new forum. Although they approached with positivity the detail paralysed progress, so they ended up only scratching the surface.

Principles mega-cast: The principles were set alongside the Vision, the Mission, the Expected Behaviours and Our Values on the intranet. Posters were created, screensavers updated. The entire team mentally responded "I don't know about the others, but I'm already fair, transparent and trustworthy"

The eternal coffee morning: An initiative was launched to connect people with the principles for adoption, but the discussions got stuck on arguing the difference between types of bias and asking "so whose ethics anyway?"

The weighty tome: A team, often external, produced a document detailing every aspect of an the risk process and new governance, complete with 50 page impact assessment template, which inevitably became shelf-ware.

Although originating from positivity, all these actions and other similar ones are not complete solutions. Indeed, in my experience one or two will have repeatedly occurred in the past as an organisation’s go-to response to difficult questions. We all know companies that re-org on an annual basis or who have lots of fanfared initiatives that sink without trace.

To make responsible-use a reality you must centre your approach on enabling your entire organisation to handle decisions in a complex and fluid environment, especially with problems that may defy straightforward answers. Departments, boards, engagement and governance all have a part to play alongside many other possible actions, but only as a response to the key question:

How might we enable our whole organisation to make the right decisions where that’s possible, and positively manage the dilemmas where it’s not?

If you’d like to hear how TechInnocens can help your organisation become a leader in making inclusive, informed decisions on responsible-use without sacrificing innovation, get in touch at techinnocens.com or mail us at info@techinnocens.com

#techethics #aiethics #vuca #wickedproblems #responsibleai