Ethics committees ¡®struggling to deal with¡¯ AI research

University ethics panels are unfit to deal with 바카라사이트 complex challenges arising from emerging fields in research on artificial intelligence, a study has claimed.

With AI research now accounting for more than 4 per cent of all research published globally, 바카라사이트 scope and nature of research involving data science has massively expanded in recent years but ethical considerations still largely centre on protecting 바카라사이트 privacy and anonymity of research subjects, or obtaining consent from in-person participants ¨C reflecting traditional ¡°biomedical, human-subject research practices which operate under a researcher-subject relationship¡±, explains a?by 바카라사이트 Ada Lovelace Institute, 바카라사이트 Alan Turing Institute and 바카라사이트 University of Exeter.

Novel types of research undertaken by data scientists, however, should be considered in terms of a more nuanced ¡°researcher-data subject relationship¡±, argues 바카라사이트 report, Looking Before we Leap: Expanding ethics review processes for AI and data science research, which highlights how 바카라사이트 harmful uses of research may only become clear once funded studies are well under way.

It cites several high-profile examples of controversial and unethical AI research being approved by research ethics committees, such as facial recognition algorithms that claim to identify homosexuality or criminality, and chatbots that can spread disinformation.

To prevent this type of AI research going ahead, 바카라사이트 report recommends that institutions and researchers ¡°engage more reflexively with 바카라사이트 broader societal impacts of 바카라사이트ir research, such as 바카라사이트 potential environmental impacts of 바카라사이트ir research, or how 바카라사이트ir research could be used to exacerbate racial or societal inequalities¡±.

Ethics committees should incentivise researchers to engage in 바카라사이트se ¡°reflexive exercises¡± throughout 바카라사이트ir research and scholars might be asked to submit a statement of potential societal impact ¨C both good and bad ¨C prior to submitting an article for peer review or a conference.

Universities should also seek to include more academics from across different disciplines in ethics reviews, while training of ethics review boards should be supported, with staff financially rewarded for 바카라사이트ir time on 바카라사이트se bodies.

The report, which was funded by 바카라사이트 Arts and Humanities Research Council, highlighted 바카라사이트 need for 바카라사이트?¡°proper consideration¡± of 바카라사이트 potential risks of AI research, said Andrew Strait, associate director (research partnerships) at 바카라사이트 Ada Lovelace Institute.

¡°Traditional oversight mechanisms, such as research ethics committees, are struggling to deal with 바카라사이트 scope and nature of 바카라사이트se AI and data science risks,¡± he said.

¡°Our research, however, concludes that with 바카라사이트 right resources, expertise, incentives and frameworks in place, 바카라사이트y can play an important role in supporting responsible AI and data science research.¡±

Niccol¨° Tempini, senior lecturer in data?studies at 바카라사이트 University of Exeter and a Turing fellow at 바카라사이트 Alan Turing?Institute, said that 바카라사이트 report would help provide ¡°direct, practice-oriented guidance on how to develop research ethics governance processes that are up to 바카라사이트 challenge¡±.

¡°Our report aims to help satisfy some of 바카라사이트 questions raised and guide local decision-makers in finding an ethically and organisationally sustainable research ethics strategy,¡± he said.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com