Everyone is talking about AI, no one is talking about ethics - voila! Marketing and digital

Before it's too late, it's time to talk about the ethics of artificial intelligence. (Photo: Pexels.com)

In recent years we have witnessed significant progress in the field of artificial intelligence, when new technologies and applications are developed and implemented at a rapid pace.

The use of deep learning algorithms and the availability of large amounts of data make it possible to perform complex tasks with high accuracy.

The development of artificial intelligence led, among other things, to the creation of autonomous cars, personalized medicine, text and image generators and the improvement of customer service through virtual assistants.

In the future, the development of even more advanced technologies and applications is expected, which have the potential to change many aspects of our lives.

But alongside this progress are ethical and security concerns, as artificial intelligence is increasingly being used as a tool for making important decisions in areas such as health, finance and criminal justice.

Therefore, it is important to ensure that the development and use of this type of system will be responsible and safe.

What is ethical artificial intelligence?

Responsible use of artificial intelligence means ensuring that it and its applications are used without causing harm to individuals or society.

This use should be based on the values ​​of fairness, transparency and privacy, and be done in a way that respects human rights and dignity.

We have previously seen quite a few examples of irresponsible use of artificial intelligence-based systems.

Let's take for example the American health care system that uses algorithms to make health decisions.

A 2019 study published in the journal Science identified racial discrimination in one of the algorithms.

According to the study, the algorithm used healthcare costs as a proxy for the calculation, which led to black patients being identified by the system as healthier than white patients and therefore not receiving additional assistance.

Another example can be found in a 2018 study published in the Quarterly Journal of Economics, which examined a machine learning algorithm used to make bail decisions in criminal cases in New York.

The developers of the algorithm estimated that it could lead to a reduction in crime and lower incarceration rates and reduce discrimination.

However, the way the judiciary used the system led to uneven results - for example, the algorithmic system did not refer to previous judicial decisions of those judges, and did not take into account the changing preferences of judges.

Central principles in the ethics of artificial intelligence

• Ethical artificial intelligence should first and foremost maintain

  transparency

  - that is, the decision-making processes of these systems should be easily understood by users and regulators.

• Another important principle is

  fairness

  , meaning the assurance that artificial intelligence systems do not discriminate against certain groups, and that they make decisions based on relevant and unbiased information.

• Those responsible for the development of artificial intelligence systems should practice

  accountability

  , i.e. be responsible for their actions.

• Finally, users' privacy

  must be maintained

  , which ensures that their personal data is protected and used in accordance with privacy laws and regulations.

How these principles are applied in the market

Guy Horesh (Photo: Binat)

There are many examples of companies and organizations that are already taking actions to implement these principles.

For example, IBM has developed a platform for responsible artificial intelligence that includes tools for fair and transparent decision-making.

The technology giant "is committed to helping organizations adopt responsible artificial intelligence by implementing ethical principles in applications and intelligence processes that will help build systems based on trust."

Google has also developed an ethical framework for artificial intelligence that includes privacy considerations, and Microsoft has established an ethics council for artificial intelligence to advise on ethical issues related to the use of artificial intelligence.

These statements and actions of the technology giants are steps in the right direction, and it is necessary to make sure that the things are actually implemented.

What new threats does AI bring to the cyber world?

The potential for malicious use of AI systems, including cyber attacks and the spread of false information, poses a significant threat to individuals and society as a whole, as AI applications are able to greatly increase the impact of these attacks.

Artificial intelligence systems face a variety of security threats, including direct and indirect attacks.

The attackers can try to manipulate the input or output of these systems and manipulate data, by stealing sensitive information or misusing the information.

Failures in the system can cause a compromise in the quality of the systems, which will lead to possible harm to individuals and organizations.

An example of the use of artificial intelligence in cyber attacks was seen in the Sunburst (SolarWinds) Attacks, the supply chain attack that was discovered in December 2020. The attackers used an AI algorithm to create unique "fingerprints" for each victim's network, making it difficult to identify and track the attack.

Another type of attack that makes use of AI is the SamSam Ransomware Attack, in which the attackers use artificial intelligence to identify vulnerable targets and evade detection by bypassing the victim's security measures.

They then take over his digital assets and demand a ransom in exchange for their release.

This type of attack was first observed in 2018 and since then its use has been increasing.

How to prevent cyber attacks (on one foot)

• First, the data must be stored securely.

• Second, information encryption mechanisms and algorithms that are strong and resistant to attacks must be used.

• Third, monitoring systems that detect security threats and respond to them in real time must be implemented.

In conclusion

Artificial intelligence systems can improve our lives in many areas, but we must ensure that they are used responsibly, while maintaining ethics and security.

By maintaining ethical principles and taking measures to improve security, it will be possible to use these systems, which continue to develop all the time, in a way that benefits people and society, while avoiding negative consequences.

Guy Horesh is a Freelance Engineer in the Information Security and Cyber ​​Division of Computer Communication Intelligence.

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