This article was published in Portuguese by SAPO Tek (original here: https://tek.sapo.pt/noticias/computadores/artigos/ha-trabalhos-que-nao-queremos-ter-um-robot-a-fazer-mesmo-que-seja-muito-inteligente). We have translated it using Google Translate.
Kay Firth-Butterfield made her career as a judge but in recent years has taken on responsibilities in evaluating and advising on the implementation of Artificial Intelligence projects, being one of the leading figures in the World Economic Forum’s AI and Machine Learning platform, and recognized as the first Chief AI Ethics Officer.
It is about the ethical use of Artificial Intelligence, and the way in which technology can and should be developed to create a lasting positive impact, from the moment of defining solutions, that has focused its participation in many conferences, around the world, and In October she was at IDC Directions, where we had the opportunity to interview her.
From jobs lost and gained to how economic power is shaping the evolution of technology in a world where geopolitics speaks louder than innovation, the conversation highlighted some of the topics already covered in the keynote, making it well-received. underlining the need to keep the human in the loop, even with all the benefits of Artificial Intelligence.
See also: The work we want – how AI will change our working lives
“There are tasks that Artificial Intelligence can do, but there are jobs that we don’t want a robot doing, even if it’s very intelligent,” highlights Kay Firth-Butterfield, indicating the case of an oncologist. After going through a cancer illness, the judge says this is an area where we need human interaction, even if some things can be automated, and the same goes for teaching children, for example, or caring for the elderly.
The vision will have to be to give humans additional powers. “We are talking about increasing the capacity of humans. To make humans better,” she emphasizes.
For Kay Firth-Butterfield, the question we have to ask is that if we are all superhuman, what makes us different? “If everyone uses AI, all advertising or fashion creations will look the same. We need to have humans to create new ideas and solutions and let AI take care of routine tasks in the back office”, she highlights, remembering that for this to happen, companies need to develop their projects in an ethical and conscious way, using a good database worked on appropriately, and with strategic vision.
Partnerships are also one of the most relevant pillars for a good implementation of AI in organizations. “It’s important for companies to know what AI models they’re using and the data they’re feeding them, because they don’t want their information to end up becoming public.”
Asked about the possibility of AI generating unemployment, the judge admits that this could happen in some areas, and that it will have an initial impact, but says that new jobs will be created. “If we look at the age pyramid in Europe and the US we see an ageing population and we will need to encourage the entry of migrants but there are tasks that AI can do”. Even if not in agriculture and factories, at least initially, robotics and automation will have an impact on these jobs, as they will on knowledge-intensive jobs. The need for an ethical framework and the AI Act in Europe.
In an analysis of how organizations are approaching Artificial Intelligence from a strategic point of view, looking at ethical issues, Kay Firth-Butterfield praises the way Europe is securing the foundations with the AI Act, but also the United States with the regulations approved by the Biden administration.
“I think Europe should celebrate the fact that it is putting in place rules and leading a responsible AI movement in the world.”
The same is not true in other geographic areas, such as Asia, where AI is being developed without ethical rules and controls. “Frankly, I don’t think I would want to live in China,” he says, recalling how citizens’ data and video surveillance are combined, but also access to services and even financing and jobs.
And is Russia a concern? “We also don’t know what Russia is doing. In fact, we know that they are creating a lot of fake content but we don’t know if they are doing more things,” he says.
The question of ethics has to be placed above all others, but at this moment development has also been centered in the hands of those who have money to invest in research and computing power. “If we ‘throw’ billions of dollars into AI projects we could have different results,” she warns, saying that we have to be vigilant in evaluating investments in these areas and how they can radically change geostrategic balances.
Regulations such as the AI Act will help to make it clearer what systems do, with transparency and accountability, and Kay Firth-Butterfield also advocates for the use of open, open-source models such as LLaMA
