The Ethical and Societal Implications of Artificial Intelligence
Author: Serena Berrey | Editor: Elizabeth Zuponcic
We hope you enjoy this healthy conversation around the world of Artificial Intelligence in our second article of our three-part series. Join us as we explore from the latest breakthroughs to practical applications, and the many ways AI is shaping our world.
As the lines between man and artificial intelligence appear to blur, the question of what is required to create content is becoming increasingly complex – and crucial. In our previous article, “Defining and Harnessing the Power of Artificial Intelligence,” we touched on impactful ways to incorporate artificial intelligence in order to complement human capabilities. The rapid advancement of AI raises ethical and societal implications that must be explored to create a positive, innovative conversation as an effective compromise in our ever-changing world of technology.
With AI’s ability to process and analyze large amounts of data quickly, AI has the potential to revolutionize a wide range of industries, from healthcare to transportation to finance. But as we look forward to the many benefits that AI can bring, it is important to consider the ethical balance we must maintain. Qualitative market research can play a key role in the ethical development and use of AI. By talking to consumers directly and understanding their needs, fears, and aspirations, researchers can help ensure that AI systems are developed in a way that is responsive to the needs of society. This can also help to identify and address any potential biases or negative impacts of AI before they become a problem.
Where most refer to the “pros” and “cons” of artificial intelligence, perhaps a more constructive vocabulary approach is the possible “advantages and disadvantages” we are seeing currently with AI:
Potential Advantages in the Medical World
One of the most obvious benefits of AI that affects a majority of the population is the increased efficiency and accuracy in repetitive tasks. By automating repetitive or time-consuming tasks, AI can help businesses and organizations to operate more smoothly and efficiently. In healthcare, for example, Generative Tech can help gear a majority of medical professionals attention towards the patient as opposed to clerical work that can take up most of their time. “The goal of automating clinical process tasks is to give doctors, nurses, and other physicians a break from repetitive tasks that distract them from patient care” (The Advantages of Intelligent Automation in Healthcare).
AI can also help to improve patient outcomes by identifying potential health risks and providing personalized treatment recommendations. Ethically speaking, with the ability to analyze vast amounts of data and make accurate diagnoses, AI can help improve the lives of patients all over the world. AI can also assist with identifying and addressing healthcare disparities, ensuring that everyone has access to the best possible care. With the help of AI, we can help to create a more equitable and efficient healthcare system that benefits everyone.
Potential Disadvantages with Data Biases & Plagiarism
With the flip side to the ethical treatment in the healthcare system and societal fairness, there is fear of the possibility that AI systems might make decisions that are biased or unfair. Because AI systems are trained on data, they may perpetuate existing biases if the data it’s trained on is biased in some way. This is a problem that has been identified and studied in other fields such as the justice system, hiring process, and lending process. However, it is crucial that we are aware of these issues and work to solve them together.
“Bias in AI algorithms can emanate from unrepresentative or incomplete training data or the reliance on flawed information that reflects historical inequalities. If left unchecked, biased algorithms can lead to decisions which can have a collective, disparate impact on certain groups of people even without the programmer’s intention to discriminate.,” Nicol Turner Lee, Paul Resnick, and Genie Barton, writing for the Brookings Institution (Open source data science: How to reduce bias in AI).
Since artificial intelligence is incapable of producing original creations, machine learning algorithms can result in repeated or plagiarized data. If the training data contains repeated or plagiarized information, the AI model may produce similar outputs. This can be particularly problematic in the case of text-generating AI models, where the generated content may closely resemble existing text and potentially infringe on intellectual property rights. We saw an example of a scenario in the CNET scandal where the company was producing “AI Articles Riddled with Errors and Plagiarism.” To mitigate the risk of AI-generated plagiarism or the spread of misinformation, it’s important to train AI models on high-quality, diverse datasets that do not contain repeated or plagiarized information. It is crucial to encourage creators to use AI models as inspiration for creation, not an artificially intelligent knock-off. It is also crucial to conduct regular audits to ensure the AI is fair and unbiased, while making sure to involve diverse perspectives in the development of AI to identify and address possible issues.
Potential Advantages in the World of Market Research
One of the greatest benefits of artificial intelligence is its ability to revolutionize the field of market research. With the help of AI, companies can now conduct qualitative market research more efficiently and accurately than ever before. This allows them to gain valuable insights into consumer behavior and preferences, which can then be used to improve products and services, increase sales and revenue, and ultimately drive business growth. Additionally, AI-powered market research can help identify new market opportunities, reduce costs, and make better-informed business decisions. All of which can be a huge boost for companies looking to stay competitive in today’s fast-paced business environment.
Artificial intelligence can revolutionize the field of qualitative market research by providing faster and more efficient data analysis, reducing the risk of human bias, and enabling real-time insights. With the ability to process and analyze large amounts of qualitative data, including customer feedback and survey responses, AI algorithms can quickly identify patterns and trends that may be missed by human researchers. Additionally, AI models can allow for less repetitive tasks for market researchers who spend time analyzing data. “The result? You spend less time on analytics and more time influencing customer behavior.” (Qualtrics).
This is not to say that AI tools can completely replace the qualitative market research process. At Focus Insite, we pride ourselves on phone call screening for the most accurate outcomes of a study. Relying on AI to filter for eligible respondents based on screener responses would allow unqualified participants to slip through the cracks. Our phone screening process has proven time and time again that human analysis is critical in detecting inaccuracies.
Potential Disadvantages in the Job Market
The increasing use of AI could possibly lead to widespread job loss, which could have a negative impact on the economy and society as a whole. According to The Oxford Study: if a machine can automate a job, then it is at risk of being automated fully. The study states that 47% of jobs that don’t require creative or interpersonal demand are the most at-risk for being replaced. (Job Automation Risks in 2023: How Robots Affect Employment).
It is important for employees to focus on developing and honing skills that cannot be easily automated. These may include critical thinking, creativity, emotional intelligence, and problem-solving. Additionally, humans will have to devote more time to staying current with the latest technology trends and advancements in order to be aware of the potential impact of AI on one’s field.
Embracing the Power of AI
Overall, AI is a powerful and exciting technology that has the potential to bring many benefits to society. However, it is important to consider the ethical implications of this technology and to be aware of the potential downsides. By designing and regulating AI systems in a responsible way, we can help to ensure that the benefits of AI are enjoyed by all while minimizing the risks.
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