“Nudging” is the term used in the IEEE standards work on Ethics for AI Design. An AI system that applies deep learning to manipulating human decisions, with detailed analysis of the targeted individual, is a disturbing potential that must affect our trust in both the systems and those that direct their applications.
Author: Jim Isaak
Cultural Perspectives of AI
By Jim Isaak on May 11th, 2018 in Articles, Privacy & Security, Societal Impact
How does your culture view the potential for AI?
Monetizing vs Engineering – Motivating Change
By Jim Isaak on April 27th, 2018 in Articles, Human Impacts
Do you want to attract the best people? Give them a problem with a purpose. Give them room to work. Give them recognition for their successes — not just internally, but encouraging them to share these at conferences, or in relevant peer communities.
Why Did the AI Cross The Road: AI Rationale
By Jim Isaak on April 20th, 2018 in Articles, Robotics
We are asking for AI rationale that can be used to improve operations, or attribute liability. This effort is doomed to failure, and may lead to greater problems.
The Danger of Empathy for Robots
By Jim Isaak on April 13th, 2018 in Articles, Robotics, Societal Impact
One result of increased AI integration will be increased empathy for robots. This transformation has potential upsides and risks.
Chris Wylie’s Frankenstein
By Jim Isaak on March 23rd, 2018 in Articles, Case Studies, Ethics, Societal Impact
“Why would a Russian oil company want to target information on American voters?” Chris asks in the article. Cambridge Analytica claims to have 4000-5000 data points on 230,000,000 U.S. adults.
AI Future: Microsoft’s View
By Jim Isaak on March 16th, 2018 in Articles, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact
Skilling-up for an AI-powered world involves more than science, technology, engineering and math. As computers behave more like humans, the social sciences and humanities will become even more important. Languages, art, history, economics, ethics, philosophy, psychology and human development courses can teach critical, philosophical and ethics-based skills that will be instrumental in the development and management of AI solutions.
AI Tipping Point
By Jim Isaak on March 9th, 2018 in Articles, Ethics, Human Impacts, Social Implications of Technology
Prior to 2016 there was little press with occasional hype about artificial intelligence. Somewhere in the last two years we… Read More
RoI of Space Travel
By Jim Isaak on March 2nd, 2018 in Articles, Human Impacts
What year will we return to the Moon? When will we have our first colony there? What are the corresponding dates for Mars?
Profit vs. Society
By Jim Isaak on February 23rd, 2018 in Articles, Societal Impact
Some cultures and many corporations have relinquished non-financial objectives to the sacred bottom line. Yet there are values beyond profit that tend to dominate our satisfaction as humans. It would be nice if some of these could become the measure of corporate return-on-investment, or the benefits of a given country.
IoT National Security Issues
By Jim Isaak on February 16th, 2018 in Articles, Privacy & Security
National security issues arise when IoT reporting reveals information about troop movements and locations.
When is AI really I?
By Jim Isaak on February 9th, 2018 in Articles, Human Impacts, Robotics, Social Implications of Technology
I have an expectation that machine consciousness will emerge unexpected, unsought, and perhaps undetected.
A Character Manifesto
By Jim Isaak on February 2nd, 2018 in Articles, Ethics, Human Impacts, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact
In “Finding the Wonder Woman Within,” values like courage, wonder, equality, grace, and power are addressed, often in very powerful ways.
The Privacy of Shape
By Jim Isaak on January 26th, 2018 in Articles, Privacy & Security
The accumulation of data points for every person on earth continues at an amazing rate, and from an amazing diversity… Read More
Market Dominance and Privacy
By Jim Isaak on January 19th, 2018 in Articles, Privacy & Security
Zuckerberg’s acknowledgement of the need to address issues related to election influence, “fake news,” and social media addiction is a significant step.
Where’s the Beef?
By Jim Isaak on January 13th, 2018 in Articles, Environment, Societal Impact
The ability to grow animal muscle from a few cells into meat for the kitchen is a significant technological advance. The book Clean Meat proposes that beef and other meat be lab-grown.
What would you do with a few million DNA records?
By Jim Isaak on January 5th, 2018 in Articles, Health & Medical
The Wall Street Journal points out that China has collected 54 million DNA records, and the U.S. FBI holds 13… Read More
Social Media Health Impact
By Jim Isaak on December 22nd, 2017 in Articles, Health & Medical
The Wall Street Journal reports that “Facebook Concedes to Effects on Health.” The social media health impact acknowledged is related… Read More
Community Awareness
By Jim Isaak on December 15th, 2017 in Articles, Human Impacts
It is delightful when high profile leaders of high tech companies present the case for positive social benefit
Vintage Technology and Bit Rot
By Jim Isaak on December 8th, 2017 in Articles, Privacy & Security
I’m still looking for a Word file containing the 1995 family history I published. When I find this, it will… Read More