Technology major Google today announced a set of principles that will govern application of artificial intelligence by the company. Google has been receiving lot of criticism for its Project Maven with more than 3000 employees writing an open letter to CEO Sundar Pichai advising the company to pull out of the programme. The project apparently involved Google helping the US government analyse drone footage using artificial intelligence.
The ethical principles were announced by Pichai in a blog. He clarified that Google will not design or deploy AI in technologies that cause or are likely to cause overall harm. The company will also not use AI for technologies that gather or use information for surveillance or for anything that is against the principles of international law and human rights.
"We recognise that such powerful technology raises equally powerful questions about its use. How AI is developed and used will have a significant impact on society for many years to come. As a leader in AI, we feel a deep responsibility to get this right,” said Pichai.
Going ahead, Google will work on AI applications that are socially beneficial but will avoid creating or reinforcing unfair bias. "AI algorithms and datasets can reflect, reinforce, or reduce unfair biases. We recognise that distinguishing fair from unfair biases is not always simple, and differs across cultures and societies. We will seek to avoid unjust impacts on people, particularly those related to sensitive characteristics such as race, ethnicity, gender, nationality, income, sexual orientation, ability, and political or religious belief,” he said.
It will incorporate privacy design principles, will have strong safety and security practices and will be accountable to people.
Recently, NITI Aayog's discussion paper on artifical intelligence has also taken cognisance of the fact that AI can create biases, it may impinge on one's privacy and undermine security protocol.