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ITechLaw Publishes New Book and Opens Global Public Comment Period on Draft Principles for Responsible Artificial Intelligence

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: THURSDAY, MAY 23, 2019

CONTACTS: Emily Reineke, CAE, Managing Director, ITechLaw, +1 703 506 2895 EST 

ITechLaw Publishes New Book and Opens Global Public Comment Period on Draft Principles for Responsible Artificial Intelligence

McLEAN, VA: The International Technology Law Association (ITechLaw) has published Responsible AI: A Global Policy Framework, a new in-depth review that proposes ethical guideposts to encourage the responsible development, deployment and use of artificial intelligence.

The publication, written by a multi-disciplinary group of 54 technology law experts, industry representatives and researchers from 16 countries across the globe, develops a detailed and actionable framework composed of eight core principles:

  • Ethical Purpose and Societal Benefit,
  • Accountability,
  • Transparency and Explainability,
  • Fairness and Non-discrimination,
  • Safety and Reliability,
  • Open Data and Fair Competition,
  • Privacy, and
  • AI and Intellectual Property.

ITechLaw invites all stakeholders — industry representatives, policy-makers, researchers, and general public – to read the publication and its accompanying draft policy framework and to submit feedback at www.itechlaw.org/ResponsibleAI or to ResponsibleAI@itechlaw.org.  The public consultation process period opens today and will run until September 15, 2019. Comments will be considered by the authors and ITechLaw in anticipation of an updated second-edition of the policy framework, to be published before the end of the year.

“The accelerating rate of progress in AI research, development and deployment is both exhilarating and alarming,” says ITechLaw President Charles Morgan. “AI has enormous potential for positive societal impact, but also for unintended and grave consequences.  This places a great weight of ethical responsibility on all those who are engaged in the development and deployment of such AI systems.  It is not surprising, therefore, that not only policy-makers, but also industry representatives and AI researchers are looking for solid guideposts.  In this context, the authors hope that the publication will make a valuable contribution to the ongoing efforts to promote responsible AI.”

The book is a call to action for stakeholders, including the general public, to actively participate in a dialogue regarding the component features of responsible AI.  In the review, each of the eight principles is treated in depth, first through the enunciation of a general principle, then through a detailed analysis of the principle’s contours and finally as expressed in an actionable policy framework.

Among the actions suggested are 

  • grounding the framework in the human-centric principle of “accountability” that makes organizations developing, deploying, or using AI systems accountable for harm caused by AI;
  • addressing concerns about whether AI systems should be given ‘legal personality’;
  • promoting a context-sensitive framework for transparency and explainability;
  • elaborating the notion of elegant failure, as well as revisiting the “tragic choices” dilemma;
  • supporting open-data practices that help encourage AI innovation while ensuring reasonable and fair privacy, consent, and competitiveness; and
  • encouraging responsible AI by design. 

“Research on machine learning, deep-learning and neural networks is advancing rapidly.  Nevertheless, we are still at an embryonic stage during which a very small number of people are developing, deploying and using AI systems that will significantly affect society in ways that most people are only starting to grasp.” says Morgan. “Now is the time to set voluntary boundaries of responsible behavior to ensure that AI research and development can mature and thrive to the benefit of all. ITechLaw and the book’s authors look forward to participating in the ongoing dialogue about the ethical considerations that must remain central to the development of AI systems.”

The discussion principles and the framework can be separately downloaded for free from the www.itechlaw.org/ResponsibleAI website. A hard copy of the 304-page book, which explores challenges and proposes solutions for responsible AI, can be ordered for USD$45 by ITechLaw members and for USD$79 by non-members. An e-version of the book is available for free for members and USD$9.99 for non-members. All attendees of the ITechLaw Boston, Dublin, Bangalore and Singapore conferences through April 2020 will also receive a complimentary hard copy.

Stakeholders are invited to share comments and follow the conversation at #ResponsibleAI_ITechLaw (Twitter), @ITechLaw_Association (Facebook), International Technology Law Association (LinkedIn), and ITechLaw.org/ResponsibleAI. Comments may also be submitted to ResponsibleAI@itechlaw.org

 


Media may obtain a free copy of Responsible AI: A Global Policy Framework via the ITechLaw media contacts or at ITechLaw.org/ResponsibleAI. A media kit with cover image and other content is available on the ITechLaw.org/ResponsibleAI site.

ITechLaw has been the leading global organization for legal professionals focused on technology and law since 1971. Its membership represents six continents, 70 countries, and a broad spectrum of expertise in the technology law field.