Manchester researchers stress need for socially responsible AI

This is the central argument of a new report, “On AI and Robotics: Developing policy for the Fourth Industrial Revolution”, published by policy@Manchester, a University of Manchester initiative set up to connect researchers to those working on policy.

According to one of the authors of the report, Dr Barbara Ribeiro, the development of new Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology is often subject to bias, and the resulting systems can be discriminatory, meaning more should be done by policymakers to ensure its development is democratic and socially responsible.

“Just like with any other new technology policymakers must not take for granted what they currently understand as the public benefit or public value of AI,” said Ribeiro. “Instead they should let the potential end users and beneficiaries explain their own concerns.”

Ribeiro added that because investment into AI will essentially be paid for by taxpayers in the long-term, policymakers need to make sure that the benefits of such technologies are fairly distributed throughout society. "Ensuring social justice in AI development is essential," she said. "AI technologies rely on big data and the use of algorithms, which influence decision-making in public life and on matters such as social welfare, public safety and urban planning."