Amritansh Raghav on the Ethical Frontier of AI in Decision-Making

In the age of silicon and algorithms, artificial intelligence is no longer science fiction.

From face recognition software patrolling city streets to algorithms analyzing your every online click, AI has woven itself into the fabric of our daily lives. This rapid integration into society, however, comes with a stark question: Are we prepared for the ethical quagmire AI presents?

The potential benefits of AI are undeniable. From aiding scientists in drug discovery to revolutionizing health care diagnostics, AI promises to solve some of humanity's most pressing challenges. But with every leap forward in technological prowess, the ethical concerns surrounding its use grow louder.

Amritansh Raghav, a California-based technology executive who has worked at several companies that are the leaders in the space, says that while innovation is grand, putting carts before horses (prioritizing productivity over humanity) is a dangerous game. 

Bias baked into algorithms, opaque decision-making processes, and the insecurity native to relieving oneself of agency in decision-making all create thorny issues that, frankly, there are no precedents for, and few rules to govern.

And while some of those concerns are likely inflated, some are not. If an AI algorithm denies someone a home loan, filters them out of a high-paying job, or eventually makes medical decisions that can affect health, well, problems don’t get much more real than that.

Algorithmic Bias: When Code Reflects Societal Prejudices

One of the most pressing concerns is the issue of bias. AI algorithms, like their human creators, are susceptible to inheriting and amplifying the prejudices prevalent in the data they’re trained on. A criminal justice system reliant on AI-powered risk assessment tools, for example, could perpetuate existing racial inequalities if the data used to train those tools already reflects biased policing practices.

And who could ever forget the controversy surrounding Google’s AI offshoot, Gemini, which has now earned the inglorious distinction of displaying race-based inaccuracies in historical depictions?

Last year, a study by ProPublica revealed that an AI algorithm used by several U.S. courts to predict recidivism risk was twice as likely to misclassify Black defendants as high-risk compared to white defendants. This blatant case of algorithmic bias highlights the potential for AI to exacerbate existing social injustices, raising urgent questions about fairness and accountability.

Black Box of Decisions: Transparency in the Age of Algorithms

Adding to the ethical quandary is the lack of transparency surrounding AI decision-making processes. Many AI algorithms, particularly those employing complex deep learning techniques, are often opaque, making it difficult to understand how they arrive at their conclusions. This murkiness raises concerns about accountability and due process, especially in high-stakes situations like loan approvals or medical diagnoses.

Imagine a scenario where an AI-powered loan denial system rejects an applicant without providing any explanation. Without understanding the underlying reasoning behind the decision, the applicant is left in the dark, unable to challenge or redress the system’s judgment. This lack of transparency not only erodes trust in AI, but also raises the specter of discriminatory practices hidden behind an impenetrable veil of code.

The Robot Revolution: Reskilling and Job Displacement

As AI continues to permeate various industries, the specter of widespread job displacement looms large. From self-driving trucks replacing truck drivers to automated customer service bots rendering call centers obsolete, the potential for AI to disrupt the workforce is undeniable. While some argue that new jobs will be created to replace those lost, the transition could be uneven, disproportionately impacting certain sectors and individuals.

The ethical responsibility to prioritize reskilling and upskilling programs for affected workers becomes paramount. Governments, corporations, and educational institutions must collaborate to equip individuals with the skills needed to thrive in an AI-driven economy. Failing to do so risks exacerbating existing inequalities and leaving vulnerable populations behind in the digital dust.

Navigating the Ethical Maze: A Call for Collective Action

The ethical challenges posed by AI are complex and multifaceted — no one is arguing that. But that’s where things get thorny. Who should be in charge of policing the ethics of AI? Police? Tech executives? Ethicists? 

Addressing them likely requires a collective effort by policymakers, tech developers, industry leaders, and civil society organizations. 

But who should be the loudest voice in the room?

There are a few ideas that have percolated recently that seem to have merit for AI development and regulation, but in a not-so-ironic twist, the moral clarity of an AI engine is subject to the moral purity of the humans that design it. 

So, deciding who is the loudest voice in the room might be tricky. 

“While technologists often lean libertarian and are skeptical of government intervention, we also have examples of structures like the Geneva Convention that have improved thorny social issues at scale,” says Raghav.

Increased public awareness is critical, not just in allowing the public to know AI’s capabilities, but also in enabling them to understand what it can’t do, where they likely don’t need to worry. Educating the public about the capabilities and limitations of AI is essential for building trust and ensuring responsible use. Transparency measures, such as explainable AI algorithms, can further foster public understanding and acceptance.

Multi-stakeholder collaboration, as referenced above, is going to be key. Addressing the ethical challenges of AI demands a collaborative approach. Open dialogue and engagement between researchers, policymakers, and the public are crucial for navigating the ethical minefield.

The idea that a new technology, however transformative, could be in a position to remove the less-than-desirable “human elements” in decision-making.

AI holds immense potential to make our lives better, but only if we develop and utilize it responsibly. By prioritizing ethical considerations and fostering open dialogue, we can ensure that the promises of AI are not overshadowed by its pitfalls. The future of AI isn’t preordained. It’s in our hands to shape it with a conscience, ensuring that this powerful technology serves as a force for good, not a harbinger of unintended consequences.

Adds Amritansh Raghav, “Maybe this is the time for people to get a more holistic education. These problems are not going to be solved by just a STEM degree, but getting a wider perspective across history, philosophy, literature, and economics might provide the toolkit for people as they enter the workforce to be equipped to tackle such issues.”