Cultural Perspectives of AI

By on May 11th, 2018 in Articles, Privacy & Security, Societal Impact

This article in the World Post distribution has some excellent pointers and points captured. It points to a U.K. House of Lords report on artificial intelligence (AI).  The article explores addressing the cultural perspectives of AI, and the potential differences between the U.K., perhaps the U.S., and China.

The marriage of big data with the analytic capacities of intelligent machines has spawned twin big brothers: surveillance capitalism in the West and a monitory mandarinate in China. Neither fit within the original libertarian vision. Both invade privacy by tracking personal information, for social control in the East and for profit in the West.”

One summary of the major principles from the U.K. report

“[T]he main principles that should determine the development of AI both at the national and international level. … AI should:

  • Be developed for the common good.
  • Operate on principles of intelligibility and fairness: users must be able to easily understand the terms under which their personal data will be used.
  • Respect rights to privacy.
  • Be grounded in far-reaching changes to education. Teaching needs reform to utilize digital resources, and students must learn not only digital skills but also how to develop a critical perspective online.
  • Never be given the autonomous power to hurt, destroy or deceive human beings.”

Chinese scholar: Feng Xiang at Tsinghua University in Beijing is quoted:

“In a provocative essay, he argues that AI should be nationalized. “For the sake of social well-being and security, individuals and private companies should not be allowed to possess any exclusive cutting-edge technology or core AI platforms. Like nuclear and biochemical weapons, as long as they exist, nothing other than a strong and stable state can ensure society’s safety.”

Diverse cultural perspectives on AI definitely provide food for thought. Related movies and views are part of the ongoing SSIT discussion. How does your culture view the potential for AI?