As artificial intelligence grows, business leaders face a series of pressing ethical questions. What role can they play in fostering responsible practices around the use of AI in the workplace? Are they already using this bias-prone technology to screen applicants?
At the inauguration AI Ethics Administrators ForumLeaders from business, government, and nonprofit organizations pondered these questions and more. The group’s meeting on the Harvard Business School campus was an opportunity Edmond and Lily Safra Ethics Center“The Commercial AI Ethics Research Team, an initiative that promotes thoughtful approaches to rapidly evolving technology.
“The Forum was an incredible start to building what we hope will be an ongoing community of practice between researchers and business leaders,” said Jonathan HackDirector of Partnerships and Engagement for the Ethics Center.
Forum speakers covered everything from case studies to perspectives on government regulation around the world. No-he-hsiehKim B. Clark Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School and Principal of EY Consulting Jeffrey SavianoCapturing the speed at which AI technologies are being adopted, their session set a tone of cautious optimism and conscientious experimentation.
Then it was Julian De Freitasassistant professor of business administration in the HBS Marketing Department, who reviewed real-world applications in brand management. He noted that AI is one of many tools available to problem solvers in businesses. To use the technology responsibly, he said, leaders must evaluate whether AI is the right solution for each specific scenario.
Other highlights included William W. FisherWilmer Hale Professor of Intellectual Property Law at Harvard Law School and Faculty Director of the Berkman Klein Center, who discussed the patchy reality of AI regulations in the US, EU and China. Cansu Cancadirector of the responsible AI practice at Northeastern University’s Institute for Experiential AI, offered a roadmap for those hoping to balance ethics with healthy adoption of innovation.
The forum concluded with an open and honest discussion among administrators on the way forward. The event was co-sponsored by the Harvard Business School, Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Societyand HKS GETTING-Plurality Network.
Leaders from corporate, business and nonprofit sectors engaged in a frank discussion about ethical approaches to AI.
Photography by Melissa Blackall
