Panel: Insights and Outlooks – AI at UD

Respective to the roles and whats you wear, what role should each of us play with where AI is currently?

Aim to bring industry and academia together to drive AI innovation, while another focuses on software development, ensuring high standards of correctness, particularly in research and production. Nonprofits are exploring how to ethically implement AI despite barriers, with efforts focused on accessibility. In healthcare, ensuring AI meets legal, ethical, and privacy standards is crucial, with a focus on workforce development and collaboration. Another role is concerned with the intersection of AI, law, and data privacy, advocating for efficiency while minimizing harm. Finally, there is an emphasis on discussing AI’s societal impacts at the state level, ensuring that its implementation benefits individuals and society as a whole.

There is rising fear that AI is poised to change the labor market, automation is taking over. What role we as though leaders could play in mitigating the social and economic impacts of this transformation, such as job displacement, and how should policies evolve to support workers?

To mitigate the social and economic impacts of AI-driven changes in the labor market, such as job displacement, thought leaders can focus on workforce development, particularly in emerging sectors, and ensure that individuals’ fears are addressed. Policies should support inclusive workforce training, particularly in fields like healthcare, and help nonprofits adapt to AI advancements. While some job displacement is likely, the workforce is expected to benefit from new technologies that increase productivity and create new opportunities. However, the rapid pace of change demands proactive measures, including setting benchmarks and preparing for disruption, particularly in industries like law, where automation is advancing quickly.

How can AI-driven technology be democratized to ensure fair access, especially for underserved communities?

To democratize AI-driven technology and ensure fair access for underserved communities, it’s crucial to address biases in algorithms and ensure diverse representation in data, particularly in sectors like healthcare. Workforce development programs should meet people where they are, with a focus on maintaining skills that remain relevant in the evolving tech landscape. There’s also a need to recognize the challenges of energy consumption and the cost of AI infrastructure, which have slowed development, creating a gap between AI’s promises and its actual implementation. While adoption and innovation are accelerating, there is concern about the environmental impacts of AI, with the panel agreeing on the need for solutions to mitigate these effects as the industry advances.

What is a single action we can take where AI can affect society?

To make a positive impact on society through AI, key actions include using AI to tackle significant issues, such as detecting cancer early, and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration to address ethical and legal concerns. AI’s potential for democratization is seen as a powerful force for change, while the focus should be on using AI to build solutions for existing problems rather than viewing it as the solution itself.