Blog Post

Emerging Issues in AI: Fairness and Transparency

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Regulators and lawmakers around the world are working to stay ahead of technology advancements, including placing increasing scrutiny on how businesses are using (and governing their use of) artificial intelligence (AI). Under proposed and emerging legislation, authorities are poised to begin asking corporations to ensure and evidence that AI systems are fair, transparent and explainable. These developments are in many ways extensions of existing data protection laws, however, regulators are striving to protect individual rights without stifling innovation.

Many organisations are striving to leverage data and AI solutions for efficiency gains and competitive advantage. While AI-powered platforms can deliver tremendous benefits to virtually every business function, unfettered use of these tools could expose firms to reputational, legal and regulatory risk. Without guardrails around AI implementation and governance of data use, a company may unknowingly or inadvertently risk harm to their employees, customers or business partners.

These are complex, developing issues in a rapidly evolving digital landscape, which most organisations and industries need to consider. In an upcoming virtual panel, I’ll be joining a discussion alongside Thomas Hammp, Senior Technical Staff Member – AI Governance at IBM and Oscar Hayward, Associate at Latham & Watkins, to explore this topic further and share insights for what steps organisations can take to prepare.

Key themes for the discussion will include:

  • Who within an organisation “owns” the AI governance challenge. Each organisation is unique, and responsibility may fall to developers, data scientists, IT, privacy, compliance or legal. Most often, like privacy compliance, it will be a shared responsibility across several functions.
  • What the current landscape indicates about whether companies that are seen as “fair and ethical” in the use of data and AI will gain competitive advantage by building more trusted brands.
  • What’s on the regulatory horizon and how organisations should be preemptively addressing the proposed changes.
  • The challenges of maintaining an effective balance between fostering innovation, compliance requirements and competitive advantage.
  • A closer look at industries that may be first under the regulatory spotlight or at an overall higher risk for scrutiny.

I’m looking forward to a stimulating and broad discussion with our esteemed panellists. There’s still time to register for the event, so please sign up here to join us.

The views expressed herein are those of the author(s) and not necessarily the views of FTI Consulting, its management, its subsidiaries, its affiliates, or its other professionals.