2023 is shaping up to be an inflection point for AI. Five years ago, we noted that barely a week went by without a mention of AI in the news. Today, stories of how organizations are finding new ways to use AI to optimize operations, improve health outcomes or advance sustainability goals are more frequent than ever.
And it’s not just companies. Increasingly, AI will permeate into people’s everyday lives, with tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and the new AI-powered Bing and Edge, currently in preview, which will help facilitate routine tasks – from drafting emails to planning trips – and give people space to pursue more creative tasks and innovative thinking.
AI’s potential to help people solve all kinds of complex challenges is clear. Yet, like other technologies, AI systems need to be developed responsibly, ensuring that they will function as intended and be used in ways that earn trust.
In our latest #TechTalk, Microsoft’s Chief Responsible AI Officer, Natasha Crampton, joined us for a conversation on the responsible development and use of AI.
In the episode, Natasha explains how Microsoft’s approach to AI is guided by a set of six responsible AI principles: fairness; reliability and safety; privacy and security; inclusiveness; transparency; accountability. Given AI’s transformative potential, she highlights the clear need for the right guardrails that will help secure the beneficial uses of the technology while guarding against its misuse and potential harm.
According to Natasha, “AI systems are built by people, and they’re also used by people. One area that is a very important for us is human AI interaction. How can we make sure that we get the very best out of humans and machines working together. That’s Microsoft’s vision for how we embrace AI. It’s all about how we can amplify human potential. We need to figure out the optimum ways of combining the best of humans and the best of machines.”
With the EU’s AI Act on the horizon, Natasha also touches on the role of regulation to advance AI and make sure AI is developed and deployed responsibly. She suggests steps the act can take to limit high-risk use cases, while continuing to enable innovations that will keep Europe globally competitive.
Watch the full #TechTalk with Natasha Crampton here.