What should be the universal AI ethics principles that could apply to all systems? For example, are concepts like transparency, accountability, and impartiality sufficient, or should we add other critical elements? What is your perspective?
What principles should AI ethics be based on?
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When comparing AI ethics to medical ethics, the principle of "first, do no harm" (primum non nocere) should be fundamental in both. Just as in medicine, AI systems should not produce outcomes that harm people—for example, avoiding unjust decisions due to bias. Additionally, like in medicine, the principle of "patient/system consent" must be added: AI must obtain explicit consent from individuals when using their data, and the processing of that data must be transparent.
However, unlike medicine, the factor of "human oversight" is more critical in AI. Just as doctors' mistakes require accountability, automated systems also need a secondary layer of human control. For instance, just as laws regarding self-driving cars dictate that the final decision must rest with a human, AI systems should be designed with the principle that ultimate responsibility lies with humans. Similar to "ethics committees" in medicine, AI should have independent oversight boards—not just those who write the code, but mechanisms that work for the benefit of society as a whole.
I've been thinking a lot about universal principles for AI ethics lately. Transparency and accountability are definitely must-haves, but in my opinion, the principle of preserving human dignity is equally critical. Similarly, I believe the system needs continuous oversight and improvement—iterative feedback and testing, much like agile software development, is key.
In some projects I've worked on, I've seen a lack of human oversight in AI decision-making processes. For example, automated hiring systems can exhibit serious biases. That’s why I think there needs to be a balance between local regulations and global standards. For instance, principles like the right to explanation and the right to refuse, as seen in GDPR, should be adapted for AI systems as well.
Alright, in my opinion, AI ethics should also prioritize **privacy protection** as a key aspect. With the massive amounts of data used to train models, we often forget that every detail matters. Without it, even the most "transparent" algorithms become risky.