AI Companies Losing Public Trust in Safety
Tech Target writes about Ethics in the Age of AI, which outlines how Americans feel about artificial intelligence (AI) from an ethical standpoint. The Markkula Center and its Institute for Technology, Ethics, and Culture (ITEC) surveyed 3,000 Americans aged 18+ and found that they have concerns about the technology’s impact on the human race.
More than half of Americans polled believe AI companies aren't considering ethics when developing the technology, and nearly 90% favor government regulations.
That credibility gap can affect investors and sales to the many enterprises evaluating and buying AI technology, said Ann Skeet, senior director of leadership ethics at the Ethics Center.
"Reputational harm can translate into a loss of shareholder value," Skeet said. "A significant misstep might cost them in terms of their reputation in the marketplace."
"It shows that the public and regulators are tired of counting on these internal governance efforts to keep us all safe," said Irina Raicu, director of internet ethics at the Ethics Center. "The public feels that those kinds of efforts are just not sufficient, so there needs to be some laws."
"For those companies to build trust with consumers, they're going to need to demonstrate a pretty deep commitment to developing trustworthy technology," Skeet said.
Irina Raicu, director, internet ethics and Ann Skeet, senior director, leadership ethics, quoted by Tech Target.