Artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled software innovation is helping businesses in every sector of the economy leverage the value of data to drive digital transformation. From manufacturers that use AI to design more innovative and sustainable products to small businesses that rely on automated translation capabilities to grow their global customer base, AI is creating new opportunities to solve complex challenges. Tremendous advances in AI are quickly transforming expectations about how the technology may reshape the world. But unlocking the full potential of AI requires a dynamic and flexible policy framework that spurs responsible innovation and enhances public trust.
Businesses of all sizes in every sector of the economy can benefit from the smart use of AI. AI solutions are already leading to improvements in healthcare, advances in education, more robust accessibility tools, stronger cybersecurity, and increased business productivity and competitiveness. AI also has the potential to generate substantial economic growth and enable governments to provide better and more responsive citizen services while addressing some of their most pressing societal challenges. A flexible policy framework that can adapt to the diverse range of AI use cases is necessary to enable the responsible deployment of AI products and services while allowing for future advances.
Please visit BSA's website for artificial intelligence resources: www.bsa.org/AI
AI can do great things, but we recognize that it must be developed and deployed responsibly. That means being responsible stewards of customer data; explaining how AI systems work; and designing and deploying AI systems in ways that account for the potential risk of unintended bias. BSA members recognize the importance of raising awareness of and building confidence in AI systems and will continue to be leaders in creating best practices surrounding the development and deployment of fair, explainable, and accountable AI technologies.
To help organizations and governments better understand the best techniques to identify and mitigate risks of bias that may emerge throughout an AI system’s lifecycle, BSA released Confronting Bias: BSA’s Framework to Build Trust in AI, which sets forth a first-of-its-kind framework for AI bias risk management that organizations can use to perform impact assessments.
The exponential increase in data, combined with increases in remote computing power and development of more sophisticated algorithms, has fueled advances in machine learning and AI. Capitalizing on these capabilities to facilitate the development of AI requires sound data innovation policies that (1) ensure data can move freely across borders, (2) guarantee open access to government data, (3) facilitate the development of value-added data services, and (4) maintain predictable, technology-neutral competition policies.
As AI and other digital technologies increasingly create a globally connected economy, we must also be vigilant in addressing increased security and privacy risks. BSA advocates for policies that encourage the adoption of enhanced security measures and respect informed consumer choices while ensuring the ability to deliver valuable tailored products and services. BSA’s cybersecurity agenda identifies five key principles for effective cybersecurity and BSA’s global privacy best practices identifies fifteen best practices for data protection, which apply to AI innovation.
Investment in education, research, and technological development will be integral to continued development of AI technologies and global economic growth. These efforts should include consistent public sector investment, particularly in projects focused on basic, long-term research, as well as investments in workforce training and development.
The increasing use of and demand for technology is changing the distribution of jobs and the nature of work. Developments in AI are creating new types of jobs, in every sector of the economy, that require an evolving set of skills. And mid-career employees are increasingly expected to interact with technology that did not exist when they entered the workforce. This trend will continue in virtually every industry. The public and private sectors, as well as academia, have important roles to play in developing solutions that will prepare the next generation for the jobs of the future and allow the current workforce to transition successfully to the new job environment. BSA members are deeply committed to tackling this challenge with stakeholders across sectors.
