Business
Trends in AI ethics before and after ChatGPT
Computational systems demonstrating logic, reasoning, and understanding of verbal, written, and visual inputs have been around for decades. But development has sped up in recent years with work on so-called generative AI by companies such as OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft.
When OpenAI announced the launch of its generative AI chatbot ChatGPT in 2022, the system quickly gained more than 100 million users, earning it the fastest adoption rate of any piece of computer software in history.
With the rise of AI, many are embracing the technology’s possibilities for facilitating decision-making, speeding up information gathering, reducing human error in repetitive tasks, and enabling 24-7 availability for various tasks. But ethical concerns are also growing. Private companies are behind much of the development of AI, and for competitive reasons, they’re opaque about the algorithms they use in developing these tools. The systems make decisions based on the data they’re fed, but where that data comes from isn’t necessarily shared with the public.
Users don’t always know if they’re using AI-based products, nor if their personal information is being used to train AI tools. Some worry that data could be biased and lead to discrimination, disinformation, and—in the case of AI-based software in automobiles and other machinery, accidents and deaths.
The federal government is on its way to establishing regulatory powers to oversee AI development in the U.S. to help address these concerns. The National AI Advisory Committee recommends companies and government agencies create Chief Responsible AI Officer roles, whose occupants would be encouraged to enforce a so-called AI Bill of Rights. The committee, established through a 2020 law, also recommended embedding AI-focused leadership in every government agency.
In the meantime, an independent organization called AIAAIC has taken up the torch in making AI-related issues more transparent. Magnifi, an AI investing platform, analyzed ethics complaints collected by AIAAIC regarding artificial intelligence dating back to 2012 to see how concerns about AI have grown over the last decade. Complaints originate from media reports and submissions reviewed by the AIAAIC.
SomYuZu // Shutterstock
A significant chunk of the public struggles to understand AI and fears its implications
Many consumers are aware when they’re interacting with AI-powered technology, such as when they ask a chatbot questions or get shopping recommendations based on past purchases. However, they’re less aware of how widespread these technologies have become.
When Pew Research surveyed Americans in December 2022, and asked if they knew about six specific examples of how AI is used, only 3 in 10 adults knew all of them. This includes understanding how AI works with email services and organizing your inbox, how wearable fitness trackers utilize AI, and how security cameras might recognize faces. This low understanding of how AI manifests in daily life contributes to Americans’ attitudes toward this technology. Pew found that 38% of Americans are more concerned than excited about the increase of AI.
Magnifi
As AI works its way into consumer tech, concerns grow to a fever pitch
Concerns about AI initially focused on social media companies and their algorithms—like the 2014 Facebook study when the company’s researchers manipulated 700,000 users’ feeds without their knowledge, or algorithms spreading disinformation and propaganda during the 2020 presidential election.
The viral adoption of ChatGPT and multimedia creation tools in the last year have fueled concerns about AI’s effects on society, particularly in increasing plagiarism, racism, sexism, bias, and proliferation of inaccurate data.
In September 2022, an AIAAIC complaint against Upstart, a consumer lending company that used AI, cited racial discrimination in determining loan recipients. Other complaints focus on a lack of ethics used in training AI tools.
In June 2023, Adobe users and contributors filed an AIAAIC complaint about Adobe’s Firefly AI art generator, saying the company was unethical when it failed to inform them it used their images to train Firefly.
Magnifi
Government, technology, and media emerge as leading industries of concern
While the AIAAIC data set is imperfect and subjective, it’s among the few sources to track ethical concerns with AI tools. Many of the government agencies that have embraced AI—particularly law enforcement—have found themselves on the receiving end of public complaints. Incidents such as facial recognition technology caused wrongful arrests in Louisiana, for example, and a quickly scrapped 2022 San Francisco Police Department policy that would allow remote-controlled robots to kill suspects.
Not surprisingly, many citizens and organizations have concerns about technology companies’ use of AI in the rise of chatbots. Some involving ChatGPT and Google Bard center around plagiarism and inaccurate information, which can reflect poorly on individuals and companies and spread misinformation.
The automotive industry is another sector where major players like Tesla leverage AI in their sprint toward autonomous vehicles. Tesla’s Autopilot software is the subject of much scrutiny, with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reporting the software has been connected with 736 crashes and 17 fatalities since 2019.
Chinnapong // Shutterstock
The optimistic case for AI’s future is rooted in the potential for scientific, medical, and educational advancements
As the federal government works toward legislation that establishes clearer regulatory powers to oversee AI development in the U.S. and ensure accountability, many industries ranging from agriculture and manufacturing to banking and marketing are poised to see major transformations.
The health care sector is one field gaining attention for how AI changes may signficantly improve health outcomes and advance human society. The 2022 release of a technology that can predict protein shapes is helping medical researchers better understand diseases, for example. AI can help pharmaceutical companies create new medications faster and more cheaply through more rapid data analysis in the search for potential new drug molecules.
AI has the potential the benefit the lives of millions of patients as it fuels the expansion of telemedicine and has the potential to aid in expanding access to health care; assist with diagnosis, treatment, and management of chronic conditions; and help more people age at home while potentially lowering costs.
Scientists see potential for creating new understandings by leveraging AI’s ability to crunch data and speed up scientific discovery. One example is Earth-2, a project that uses an AI weather prediction tool to forecast extreme weather events better and help people better prepare for them. Even in education, experts believe AI tools could improve learning accessibility to underserved communities and help develop more personalized learning experiences.
In the financial sector, experts say AI warrants a considerable number of ethical concerns. Gary Gensler, the head of the US Securities and Exchange Commission, told the New York Times that herding behavior—or everyone relying on the same information, faulty advice, and conflicts of interest could spell economic disaster if not preempted. “You’re not supposed to put the adviser ahead of the investor, you’re not supposed to put the broker ahead of the investor,” Gensler said in an interview with the New York Times. To address those concerns, the SEC put forward a proposal that would regulate platforms’ use of AI, prohibiting them from putting their business needs before their customers’ best interests.
Story editing by Jeff Inglis. Copy editing by Kristen Wegrzyn.
This story originally appeared on Magnifi and was produced and
distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.
Business
mesh conference to explore animal ‘de-extinction’ and how Canada’s digital policy has gone off the rails
Today the mesh conference announced that biotech leader Ben Lamm and prominent lawyer Michael Geist will keynote at the Dec 6-7 event in Toronto.
On December 6-7, all innovation roads lead to the mesh conference in Toronto, and today the event unveiled more detail on two featured keynote speakers.
Joining the mesh conference as a keynote speaker is Colossal CEO, Ben Lamm. Known for his pioneering work at the intersection of biotechnology and conservation, Lamm’s presence promises to ignite discussions and offer unparalleled insights into the future of biotech, de-extinction, and environmental sustainability.
Also joining mesh as a keynote speaker is Dr. Michael Geist, a prominent lawyer and leading authority on technology law and policy. Geist has been a regular columnist on digital policy with leading publications such as the Globe and Mail and Toronto Star and is the creator and host of Law Bytes, one of Canada’s top technology podcasts.
With a focus on four threads — business, media and technology, society, and marketing — the mesh conference hosts Canadian digital transformation leaders who will meet to connect, share, and inspire others to think about changing the way we think, organize, operate and behave.
“De-extinction” is vital to fighting climate change
Colossal Biosciences’ Ben Lamm will join the mesh conference for a conversation about the work his company is doing to bring back the woolly mammoth, the Tasmanian tiger, and the dodo bird.
Lamm is a serial entrepreneur who started Colossal in 2021 with George Church, a biologist at Harvard Medical School. The company is working to advance the field of species de-extinction in order to bring back biodiversity and reintroduce species to Earth to help fight climate change.
Colossal’s work comes at a time when the world has entered the sixth extinction crisis, where the loss of species can have devastating effects on biodiversity that is crucial to human survival.
Colossal is building technology to stop the extinction process, secure animal DNA, and reverse environmental damage created by humans.
“In addition to bringing back ancient extinct species like the woolly mammoth, we will be able to leverage our technologies to help preserve critically endangered species that are on the verge of extinction and restore animals where humankind had a hand in their demise,” Lamm says.
De-extinction reverses plant and animal extinction by creating new proxy versions of these lost species. By bringing back extinct animals, the goal is to restore ecosystems that have been lost. By bringing back extinct animals, the goal is to restore ecosystems that have been lost, while increasing biodiversity and restoring ecosystem resilience.
Learn more about Colossal:
Canada’s digital policy has gone off the rails
Dr. Michael Geist will join the mesh conference for a keynote conversation on Canada’s digital policy where he will share his views on why he thinks it’s gone off the rails, and advice about what engaged communities should be doing.
Geist is the Canada Research Chair in Internet and e-Commerce Law, a Faculty member at the Centre for Law, Technology and Society, and a Professor at the University of Ottawa.
At the mesh conference, Geist will lead an engaging discussion that will delve into the current landscape of Canadian digital policy, focusing on the repercussions of the Online News Act, known commonly as Bill C-18. The removal of Canadian news from major platforms like Facebook and Instagram by Meta, as well as the anticipated response from Google involving a ban on Canadian news in search results, will be explored in depth.
Geist, a recognized authority in technology law and policy, will also shed light on the implications and nuances of the Online Streaming Act, formerly known as Bill C-11 that imposes new rules on certain online streaming services.
This session aims to foster a comprehensive understanding of the challenges posed by evolving digital policies in Canada and to propose actionable steps for proactive engagement and advocacy.
Two weeks until we mesh
The mesh conference is a two-day event that will feature a series of inspiring talks, interactive workshops, and panel discussions that delve into how technology and innovation can be used to augment human capabilities to improve our world.
Attendees will gain insights into the latest digital trends, emerging technologies, and strategies for achieving human-centered digital transformation.
The mesh conference is back in Toronto on December 6-7 after relaunching earlier this year in Calgary where more than 200 people met to connect, share, and inspire.
The mesh conference recently announced it will be donating all proceeds from the event to Second Harvest, Canada’s largest food rescue organization and leader in perishable food redistribution.
See more speakers and get your tickets at meshconference.com
Business
Fintech competition a cure for Canada’s financial inequality and an over-protected banking industry
Koho CEO Daniel Eberhard and Canadian Senator Colin Deacon chat aboutCanada’s banking industry and fintech solutions at Elevate Festival.
Regulated banks offer security — you know your money’s safe there.
But overprotection in the Canadian banking industry has negative effects, including:
- Excessive credit requirements
- High-income Canadians ($150,000 salaries) still living paycheque to paycheque
- Arbitrary events that lower credit scores, like changing credit cards
Daniel Eberhard and Senator Colin Deacon discuss the limitations of Canada’s over-regulated banking industry and how to correct them at this year’s Elevate Festival in Toronto.
Here are some highlights from their fireside chat.
Canada’s banking climate is one of the least competitive in the world
Governmental red tape to become a bank or offer similar services prevents many new, innovative banking businesses from entering the Canadian market.
Eberhard describes Canada’s uncompetitive banking climate through the Lerner Index, an economic measure to assess price to product, where Canada was last ranked at 0.49 in 2014.
“0.1-0.2 is a healthy banking climate; everything above 0.4 is rare and non-competitive at all. The only country I’ve seen higher than Canada is Qatar. What happened in 2009, and did anybody opt into one of the least competitive banking climates in the world? What does that mean for everyday Canadians…or the 80% of Canadians who feel their financial position has gotten worse year over year?”
A lack of competition leads to banking services that don’t serve the people
Eberhard cites a fintech colleague that provides brokerage accounts in 100 countries, but not Canada. Meaning? Canada doesn’t have a competitive banking industry.
Economic experts reinforce time and time again that a lack of competition, or a monopoly, results in:
- Higher prices
- Less efficiency
- Rising inequality
Last month, Canada’s Department of Finance announced measures to protect Canadians from their banks. These include new mortgage guidelines, enhancing low-cost and no-cost banking options, lowering non-sufficient fund fees, and designating an external not-for-profit organization to handle complaints.
However, Senator Deacon asserts that Canada’s uncompetitive banking industry is no different from what economists have cautioned against in the last few decades:
“How we regulate our banks…is very separate (from) challenging our banks to deliver more customer-centric services…The more protected you are as an industry, the less customer-centric you become. You will become organizational-centric; you do what is good for your business and shareholders — that’s the job of a board of directors.
Open banking and fintech can make Canadian banking more customer-centric
The Canadian fintech market has been dropping since 2021, and according to KPMG’s H1 2023 report, investments have dropped down to pandemic levels. From the end of 2022 to the summer of 2023, they reported a 74% drop in investment value and a 28% drop in the number of deals.
Related reading: Canadian fintech investment continues to fall in 2023, says KPMG
Eberhard and Deacon see fintech competition as the answer to better, more inclusive banking services:
“What we’ve got to do is force that board of directors to get more innovative and aggressive in how they serve those customer needs. And how we do it is we introduce competition through financial technology services who offer customers things that are completely different than what the traditional banking system has been offering.”
Chrissy Kapralos is a Toronto-based writer who loves exploring finance, tech, marketing, and travel topics in her work. She runs a small writing agency named No Worries Writing. Co.
Business
Unlocking digital transformation for good: mesh conference lands in Toronto on December 6-7
Canada’s digital transformation and innovation event is back in Toronto on Dec 6-7.
In a world where technology shapes the way we live and work, it’s important to harness the power of innovation to not only drive business success, but also make a positive impact on our communities. That’s the vision behind the upcoming mesh conference, set to take place in Toronto on Dec 6-7.
And this digital transformation event is more than an innovation summit — it’s an opportunity to combine innovation with social responsibility, with proceeds benefiting Second Harvest, Canada’s largest food rescue organization and leader on perishable food redistribution.
Human-powered, tech-enabled innovation
The mesh conference is back in Toronto on December 6-7 after relaunching earlier this year in Calgary where more than 200 people met to connect, share, and inspire.
And the mesh conference is not your typical digital transformation and innovation event — it’s a platform where visionaries, innovators, and thought leaders come together to explore the intersection of technology and humanity.
The theme for the Toronto event is “Human-powered, tech-enabled,” emphasizing the pivotal role of technology in augmenting human capabilities.
The two-day event will feature a series of inspiring talks, interactive workshops, and panel discussions that delve into the ways people who are augmented by technology and innovation can improve our world. Attendees will gain insights into the latest digital trends, emerging technologies, and strategies for achieving human-centered digital transformation.
Making a difference — why mesh is supporting Second Harvest
We’re in a crisis, and more people than ever are relying on food banks.
In Toronto alone, a recent study shows one in 10 people are now relying on food banks, and more than 2.5 million visits to food banks took place between April 2022 and March 2023 — a 51% increase over the year before.
Across Canada, nearly two million Canadians accessed a food bank over the course of one month, the Food Banks Canada HungerCount 2023 report shows..
With a commitment to social responsibility and using its platform to help others, the mesh conference announced that all proceeds raised after expenses will be donated to Second Harvest. Attendees of mesh can also make a top-up donation when purchasing a ticket, and every $25 raised will provide more than 100 meals to those in need via Second Harvest.
“In the spirit of giving back, we’ve designed mesh to support those facing food insecurity and we’re thrilled to be working with Second Harvest,” says mesh conference co-founder and co-producer, Sheri Moore. “Proceeds will be donated to Second Harvest, and we’re designing our food menu with our catering team at Toben Food By Design in order to rescue the food from our event in a way that has the greatest impact for our matched charity.”
Second Harvest works with thousands of food businesses from across the supply chain, utilizing logistics and technology to reduce the amount of edible food going to waste. Its inclusive model ensures a healthy surplus of food is redirected to thousands of charities and nonprofits across the country, providing millions of Canadians experiencing food insecurity access to the nourishment they need.
“It’s important to us that we help our community in any way and every way that we can,” says Moore. “With the return of mesh in 2023 after the pandemic, we have been overwhelmed by the support from new friends and mesh alumni alike. What better way to give back than to pay it forward to use our platform to help those in need.”
In addition to food donations, Moore says mesh is also looking at ways to take a circular approach with the help of Leaff Circular Gifting, a sustainable organization that offers eco-friendly flowers, plants, gifts, gift boxes, and immersive virtual experiences. Leaff Circular Gifting’s mission involves endorsing local enterprises such as farmers, artisans, indigenous communities, and others by incorporating them into their gift-centric platform.
Why you should attend the mesh conference in Toronto
With a focus on four threads — business, media and technology, society, and marketing — the mesh conference hosts Canadian digital transformation leaders who will meet to connect, share, and inspire others to think about changing the way we think, organize, operate and behave.
Among the many reasons innovators attend mesh:
- The mesh conference offers cutting-edge insights: Learn from industry experts and thought leaders about the latest digital trends and technologies shaping our world.
- The mesh conference creates unique networking opportunities: Connect with like-minded individuals, build valuable relationships, and explore potential collaborations.
- The mesh conference delivers social impact: Make a difference by supporting Second Harvest and helping to combat food insecurity in your community.
- The mesh conference will inspire you: Discover how technology can be a force for good and get inspired to drive positive change.
- The mesh conference delivers practical, hands-on knowledge: Gain actionable strategies to drive digital transformation within your organization, rooted in a human-centric approach.
Get involved — join us at the mesh conference
We invite you to be part of this unique event that combines innovation, education, and social responsibility. The mesh conference takes place at The Symes December 6-7.
To secure your spot and help support Second Harvest, visit meshconference.com and register today. Don’t miss this chance to be a part of the mesh Conference, where human-powered, tech-enabled transformation meets social impact.
See you in Toronto.
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