April Six is pleased to launch the first in its new Industry Leaders Series, After the Pandemic: Ethical frameworks for AI post-coronavirus.
Across the world, Covid-19 is rapidly overturning established conventions and assumptions about the willingness of governments to use technology in order to control the pandemic. Many, not least the UK Prime Minister, have compared the extremity of the situation to that of wartime, implying a willingness to take all measures necessary to ensure victory and limit deaths.
In recent years the development of innovative AI applications was developing as quickly – if not faster – than the ability of regulators, policy-makers and philosophers to absorb and respond to the questions these new powerful tools presented. At the time of writing, it appears that more intrusive measures (including use of data and AI) have been more effective in controlling disease spread. If this is proven, Covid-19 could become a watershed moment for the tolerance of societies worldwide to accept an ethical framework different than that envisaged by leading Western democratic institutions. As part of our new series on technology and society, we have interviewed three leading industry leaders – experts in AI and machine learning – on their outlook for ethical frameworks post-Covid-19. Their insight will reveal issues and ideas which will no doubt be at the heart of the new discourse on ethical AI and the balance between citizens’ rights and national security.
After the Pandemic can be downloaded at http://comms.aprilsixproof.com/after-the-pandemic and features contributions from Caroline Gorski, Group Director at Rolls-Royce’s R2 Data Labs; Simon Dennis, Director of Future Government and Head of Public Affairs at SAS and James Loft, Chief Operating Officer at Rainbird.
We hope you find it of interest, and if you want to understand more about the direction of travel for Government and public policy on AI, science and technology please get in touch.
