ELSCE Co-Hosts Directors' AI Ethics Forum
These days, it’s nearly impossible to navigate daily life without encountering AI. With its seemingly limitless applications—creating stunning visuals, diagnosing diseases, condensing complex information—it’s no wonder there's a fervor to integrate this tool into every aspect of our existence. Yet, in this rapidly shifting landscape, where the bounds of AI deployment are constrained only by human ingenuity, the urgency for thoughtful deliberation and tempering the hype has never been more apparent.
At the inaugural Directors’ AI Ethics Forum, held on June 17-18, 2024, Harvard University’s Edmond & Lily Safra Center for Ethics, in collaboration with Harvard Business School, the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society, and the GETTING-Plurality Network, carved out a vital space for dialogue to reflect on pivotal ethical considerations surrounding AI deployment in the corporate sector. What role do business leaders play in fostering ethical practices around machine learning and the myriad applications of artificial intelligence in today’s workplaces? How many companies, not traditionally seen as tech-centric, are already deploying algorithms to sift through job applications, potentially reinforcing biases with each computer-generated decision? This event brought together a diverse mix of corporate, nonprofit, and government leaders, alongside faculty, scholars, and researchers, to tackle these pressing questions.
Navigating the AI Surge: Balancing Innovation with Ethical Responsibility
The day kicked off with Nien-hê Hsieh and Jeffrey Saviano setting the stage, highlighting the unprecedented speed at which AI technologies are being adopted. In just two months, ChatGPT had already reached 100 million users. This rapid adoption brings a slew of questions, risks, and concerns. Yet, the tone set for the forum was one of cautious optimism, urging business leaders to engage in thoughtful experimentation.
Julian De Freitas led a session tracking the evolution of AI technologies and exploring cases where companies leveraged AI to tackle brand management challenges. Professor De Freitas hit an important note, reminding us that AI is merely a tool. To use it well, we must start with the problem at hand and critically assess whether AI is the appropriate solution.
Mastering AI Governance: Critical Questions and Global Regulatory InsightsM
Building on these innovative use cases, Professor Hsieh and Jeff Saviano prompted corporate leaders to reflect on the critical questions they should pose to their management teams. In what can only be described as a masterclass, Terry Fisher provided a broad yet substantive review of the current AI regulatory landscape in the US, EU, and China. Although governments are engaging in piecemeal regulation at best, Professor Fisher demonstrated that attempts, nonetheless, are being made to govern what seems like a Pandora’s Box. Vincent Okonkwo rounded out the session by presenting a new AI ethics framework and reviewing case law related to corporate governance oversight.
Over lunch, we were treated to lightning talks from three practitioner-researchers. Albert Fox-Cahn delved into local AI governance lessons, spotlighting New York City's Local Law 144 and the broader landscape of city and state-level AI regulations. Michaela Jamelska championed human rights within the technology realm, underscoring the importance of comprehensive and inclusive approaches to AI policy. Fabrizio Dell'Acqua examined performance and quality comparisons between AI-assisted and non-AI-assisted tasks.
Cansu Canca offered a roadmap for directors, advocating for dynamic AI governance that is both integrative and responsive to technological innovations. Professor Canca presented key questions to help put in place structures that ensure robust corporate governance. The day concluded with discussions emphasizing the need for structured, ethics-based AI governance frameworks within corporations, the importance of interdisciplinary approaches, and the necessity of aligning AI practices with both legal standards and organizational values. Participants left with more questions than answers, but that is the hallmark of engaging sessions: they pique our interest and keep us wanting more.
Is AI unique?
Since the event, I find myself asking: is AI the red herring? This isn’t to downplay AI or the necessity of robust regulation. But strip away AI, and the core issue remains: how to exercise good corporate governance in a rapidly evolving landscape with minimal legal or regulatory guidance. Take, for instance, the challenge of mitigating risk—a pressing concern in every industry. Too often, discussions about AI risks descend into a dizzying whirl of unproductive attempts to manage the vast expanse of unknowns. But, as Professor De Freitas reminded us: start with the problem. When we begin with a specific issue and construct a solution, whether AI is involved or not, identifying and mitigating risk becomes a more tangible exercise. AI then becomes merely a tool, akin to a hammer, with manageable risks. Of course, there will always be unknowns—as Sinatra said, “that’s life”—but by starting with the problem and working towards a solution, we carve a clearer path to navigate potential hazards.
The takeaway is clear: ethics is not an add-on to technological advancement but its very foundation. While AI holds immense potential, integrating it demands a conscientious approach rooted in ethical considerations. What is the right course of action when a decision benefits 95% of users but potentially causes deep harm to 5%? A machine might see these as good odds—indeed, some humans might as well (sorry Boeing)—but it’s questions like these and the subsequent decisions that remind us what it means to be human, a task made all the more challenging as AI capabilities blur those lines. By establishing ethical frameworks within their companies, directors can create crucial value-laden benchmarks to evaluate management’s actions and ensure decisions align with those values, guiding us through the complexities of this rapidly changing landscape with integrity and foresight.
As we forge ahead, it is this ethical grounding that will ensure AI serves humanity’s best interests. It’s no wonder an ethics center is leading the charge.
Author jonathan hack is the Director of Partnerships and Engagement for the Edmond & Lily Safra Center for Ethics.