Towards a conceptual framework for ethical AI development in IT systems

Abstract

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies has prompted significant societal, ethical, and legal concerns regarding their deployment in information technology (IT) systems. Addressing these concerns necessitates the establishment of a robust ethical framework to guide AI development and integration into IT systems. This paper presents a comprehensive conceptual framework aimed at fostering ethical AI development within IT systems. The proposed framework incorporates multidisciplinary perspectives, drawing upon principles from ethics, computer science, law, and philosophy. It emphasizes the integration of ethical considerations at every stage of the AI development lifecycle, including design, implementation, deployment, and maintenance. Central to this framework is the recognition of AI systems as socio-technical artifacts with profound impacts on individuals, communities, and societies at large. Key components of the framework include transparency, accountability, fairness, privacy, and security. Transparency entails ensuring that AI algorithms and decision-making processes are comprehensible and explainable to stakeholders, thereby fostering trust and enabling scrutiny. Accountability mechanisms are essential for attributing responsibility for AI-driven outcomes and facilitating recourse in cases of harm or injustice. Moreover, the framework emphasizes the importance of fairness in AI systems, advocating for the mitigation of biases and discrimination across diverse demographic groups. Privacy protection measures are deemed crucial to safeguarding individuals' personal data from unauthorized access or misuse, while robust security protocols are essential for defending against malicious exploitation and adversarial attacks. By delineating ethical guidelines and best practices, this conceptual framework aims to empower developers, policymakers, and organizations to navigate the complex ethical landscape of AI development in IT systems. Ultimately, the adoption of such a framework is imperative for harnessing the transformative potential of AI technologies while upholding fundamental ethical principles and societal values.