Public and Private Sectors urged to embrace Ethical Artificial Intelligence

Technology

The Mozilla Foundation Chairperson Mitchell Baker says the world is in a rapidly evolving digital landscape, thus a need to quickly embrace artificial intelligence (AI) in both private and public sectors.

Baker said open source and responsible AI have become critical pillars of innovation in the modern world, thus there is need to critically and urgently address the growing importance of ethical and transparent AI development.

Speaking to key stakeholders from government, industry, academia, and civil society among others at a Nairobi hotel, Baker affirmed that there is need to foster collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and a collective commitment to ensuring that AI technologies benefit society while minimising risks.

She said open-source software in AI development has become the foundation for many AI innovations, allowing for greater transparency, collaboration, and security. Further, she said that stakeholders in both public and private sectors can benefit from using and contributing to open-source AI tools, thus ensuring that AI technologies remain accessible and adaptable, reducing dependencies on proprietary software while encouraging innovation.

While alluding to the fact that AI development comes with significant ethical challenges, including concerns about bias, privacy, and accountability, Baker reiterated the need for key industry stakeholders to explore and adapt best practices for building AI systems that align with principles of fairness, transparency, and accountability.

National Assembly Deputy Speaker Gladys Boss Shollei lauded Mozilla Foundation’s free and open-source software and said the Kenyan government and its institutions must arise and adapt to the modern digital space for efficient service delivery to her citizens. Shollei acknowledged that as AI technologies become more ubiquitous, policymakers face increasing pressure to establish regulations that ensure ethical AI development and deployment.

‘We need to be cautious that the AI systems created are fair, transparent, and accountable, with a focus on mitigating biases and protecting user privacy,’ noted Shollei. ‘We need to put in place policy frameworks that will ensure AI is used for public good without stifling innovation. Governments need to adopt flexible and adaptive policies that foster responsible AI innovation without hindering technological advancements,’ she added.

Shollei also stressed on the need for robust frameworks to mitigate biases in AI models, especially when these technologies are deployed in critical sectors like healthcare, law enforcement, and finance. She said it is important for governments and those in the private sector to collaborate in order to advance responsible AI practices while at the same time significantly enhancing the transparency of AI systems, allowing for better public scrutiny and collaboration.

‘Public-sector organisations play a crucial role in establishing regulations and standards, while private companies drive technological advancements, and thus together, they can create AI ecosystems that prioritise societal welfare while driving economic growth,’ she added.