Exploring the Future of AI Ethics with Biju Krishnan

Recently I had the privilege of being interviewed by Ilya Billig, organizer of the video cast GenAI: Reality Check - Business outcomes of GenAI series. Here is the transcript of our discussion on the evolving landscape of AI ethics.

Ilya: Hi, welcome to Reality Check. Biju, can you introduce yourself and tell us how you became an AI Ethics Assessor?

Biju: I've been designing technology solutions for over 20 years, focusing on analytics, big data, and machine learning. Recently, I've become thoughtful about the implications of AI in our daily lives and started seeking ways to incorporate ethical principles into AI applications. My goal is to combine practical experience with the values we should uphold as a society.

Ilya: Why do we need to consider ethics in AI solutions?

Biju: Ethical AI is critical to uphold societal principles. Key areas include transparency, accuracy, reliability, safety, and preventing unintentional discrimination. We must ensure human accountability and control remain central to these systems.

Ilya: How is AI ethics enforced in companies today?

Biju: While large companies like Microsoft have guidelines, a small percentage of businesses have dedicated departments for this. Companies should start by drafting clear guidelines, educating users on capabilities and limitations, and setting up processes to identify high-risk use cases early.

Ilya: What steps should companies take for future compliance?

Biju: Establish organizational-level guidelines, create a use case registry, conduct ethical profiling, and involve qualified assessors for high-risk applications. The demand for experts in this field is only going to grow with new legislation like the EU AI Act.