AUSTIN, Texas — Leading artificial intelligence experts today discussed ethical approaches to AI innovation at a symposium hosted by the University of Texas at Austin.
Panels held at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs focused on issues related to AI in health care, the workforce, education and policymaking. UT hosted the event as part of its 2024 “Year of AI” initiative that highlights emerging research and stimulates conversations around AI.
“AI has promise and of course it has perils,” said Sherri Greenberg, a professor at LBJ and former president of Good Systems Ethical AI.
Greenberg said the AI initiative is important to UT as a leading research university because of its impact on education and career preparation.
Travis County Judge Andy Brown said he hopes state and federal governments will pass AI regulations so America can develop AI ethically without getting left behind by other countries.
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“I have a lot of concerns about the impact this will have on the workforce. I don’t want to turn many important county functions over to AI.
Justice Brown and other panelists said using appropriate AI training data is necessary to achieve better results. Although he is wary of the technology, Brown said AI chatbots could be added to county websites, making online government resources more accessible.
“From our perspective, the ‘A’ could mean access, and the ‘I’ could mean inclusion,” Dr. Patrick Lee said during a panel on AI and healthcare.
He said AI could be used to build trust with vulnerable communities by acting as a personal health assistant and speeding up document reviews, giving doctors time to connect with their patients.
“We can use these technologies in a much more human-centered and community-centered way,” Lee said.
