Transparency, explainability, sensitivity key blocks required for building ethical AI: Big Blue

Building ethical AI (artificial intelligence) requires collaboration between governments, industry and ecosystem players, said IBM India and South Asia’s Managing Director Sandip Patel.

Building ethical AI (artificial intelligence) requires collaboration between governments, industry and ecosystem players, said IBM India and South Asia’s Managing Director Sandip Patel.

As artificial intelligence becomes more prominent with the technology getting increasingly embraced by everyone, all geographies, including India, should come out with dedicated policies to support AI for the greater good, Mr. Patel said responding to a query from The Hindu on the role of government in building ethical AI at recently held Think 2023, at Big Blue’s annual tech exposition. The even showcased Big Blue’s latest in AI, Generative AI, hybrid cloud, quantum computing and other technologies.

Collective and responsible effort was required to steer India into the AI era and also to make sure the benefits of ethical AI reach all equally, the IBM official further said.

“Transparency and explainability are the base of trust that is involved in building ethical AI systems. Ethical AI is all about having a level of transparency in the foundational models that are being used or data that is being used,” he elaborated.

People’s right to data privacy was extremely critical which meant sensitivity was key to the success of AI systems. Else, these could be dangerous to individuals, enterprises, governments and society as a whole, he cautioned.

“AI has to stand the test of time if it wants to revolutionise and democratise technology and bridge the digital divide in true sense,” he added.

According to Mr. Patel, ethical AI will power over a billion dreams and will be foundational in bridging the digital divide not just in India but across the globe.