Dangers of AI in the Workplace and Beyond
Published on: 3rd August 2023
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become an integral part of our lives, impacting various sectors like healthcare, finance, and transportation, with its using expected to growth rate 37.3% annually for the next decade.
While AI holds immense potential for positive change, be it improving patient diagnosis, streamlining market research, or optimising operations, it also poses certain risks that need to be understood on both an organisational and individual level. In this article, we will explore the potential dangers of AI in a non-technical manner, shedding light on the importance of responsible AI development and usage.
AI relies heavily on data, often requiring vast amounts of personal information to make accurate predictions or recommendations. As AI evolves, it will use increasing amounts of this sensitive information, and this poses challenges to individual privacy and data security. Unscrupulous use or mishandling of personal data can lead to identity theft, surveillance, or unauthorized profiling. Since the most commonly adopted AI tools are for data management and analysis, it is crucial for AI systems to be designed with privacy in mind, incorporating techniques such as data anonymization, encryption, and robust access controls. Clear consent mechanisms and transparent data usage policies are also essential to protect user privacy, AI adds further complexity to the issue of tracking and reclaiming lost data.
One of the critical dangers of AI is the potential for bias and discrimination. AI systems are trained on vast amounts of data, which can inadvertently perpetuate existing biases present in that data. This bias can result in unfair treatment in areas such as hiring, loan approvals, or criminal justice. If the programmers have a bias, this is then built into the systems they create. Last year, researchers from the University of Southern California found that up to 38.6% of the ‘facts’ used by AI systems in their study were biased. As intelligence advances beyond that which we might be able to comprehend, instilling ethical protocols will be key. To mitigate this risk, developers and organisations must be vigilant in data selection, ensuring diverse and representative datasets. Regular audits and human testing can help identify and rectify biases within AI systems, fostering fairness and inclusivity.
A fake AI browser extension refers to a software add-on or plugin that claims to provide artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities but is designed to deceive or mislead users.
These browser extensions pose a significant risk to company and end user data. Many of these extensions are developed with the purpose of stealing account details, passwords and sensitive user information. If this is something you’re concerned about, please get in touch to receive a free stolen credential monitoring report, which scans 64,000 locations on the deep and dark web for your domain.
Additionally, these malicious extensions have the capability to misleading search results allowing for manipulation of user behaviour, promoting malicious or harmful sites, downloads and content. There have been reports of many of these extensions being removed from online platforms such as the google play store, however with the effectiveness of this method of propagation users should be aware of what it is they are installing.
AI systems can be complex, making it difficult to understand how decisions are made. The ICO provides details about the accountability principle, which clarifies your responsibility to company with law when using AI systems. Yet a lack of transparency and a naïve understanding within organisations of how AI systems work raises concerns regarding trust, as it becomes challenging to determine if an AI system is behaving ethically. In AI algorithms, providing clear reasoning for decisions, and fostering algorithmic transparency are essential steps to start to address the issues around accountability and transparency. Regulatory frameworks and standards can also help ensure accountability in development and deployment to help mitigate these dangers of AI.
Artificial Intelligence offers tremendous opportunities for business advancement. However, it is vital to understand and address the risks associated with its development and deployment. By avoiding the difficult conversations and avoiding action on the matter, we could be opening the backdoor to a series of darker issues and informed decisions.
As this topic continues to grow and emerge, we will continue to share our insights with you. Speak to Communicate Technology if you need any advice or information around AI, and how you can enjoy the benefits of artificial intelligence, without impacting your security here, or call us on 0800 404 8888.
