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Digital Ethics Forum: coordinating UCL's interdisciplinary strengths
Transformative Technology funding awarded in 2018/19
21 October 2024
This research project aimed to initiate an intra-UCL conversation around pressing ethical challenges arising from ubiquitous data collection and increasing adoption of algorithmic decision systems for every aspect of our lives. UCL Digital Ethics Forum, aims to feed into a major element of this vision ‘Social Implications of AI’ by exploring the ethical dimension in particular.
The first of a series of workshops was held on 1st May 2019 and comprised of high-level representation from UCL’s various faculties and the Deans’ of Law (Prof. Piet Eeckhout), Bartlett (Prof. Alan Penn) and Life Sciences (Prof. Geraint Rees).
The following points were covered:
The complexity of technology and automation introduces unforeseen ethical challenges. Media bias has long been tolerated, but with machine learning, can we accept similar biases? The issue isn’t with the technology itself, but its unintended unethical outcomes.
AI exposes how we view ourselves. If machines surpass human intelligence, what makes us unique? This question is key to digital ethics, as AI forces us to reconsider fairness and ethics in an imperfect world.
A UNESCO document on digital ethics is being finalised for global adoption, potentially setting the standard for future discussions, including at UCL.
Ethical concerns need to be integrated into design. Engineers must have ethical principles presented in actionable, "designable" terms, ensuring ethics are part of the creation process.
