AI and Ethics: A Guide for Charitable Organisations
Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to be a powerful force for good in the charity sector. However, as with any powerful tool, it is essential that it is used ethically and responsibly. This guide will explore some of the key ethical considerations for charities using AI and provide a framework for ethical decision-making.
The Ethical Landscape of AI
The use of AI raises a number of complex ethical questions, particularly for charities. These include:
Fairness and Bias: How can we ensure that AI systems are fair and do not perpetuate or amplify existing biases?
Transparency and Accountability: How can we be transparent about how we are using AI, and who is accountable when things go wrong?
Human Oversight: How can we ensure that there is always a human in the loop to make the final decision?
Privacy and Surveillance: How can we use AI to personalise our services without infringing on the privacy of our beneficiaries?
The Future of Work: What impact will AI have on jobs in the charity sector, and how can we support our staff through this transition?
A Framework for Ethical AI
To navigate this complex ethical landscape, it is helpful to have a clear framework for ethical decision-making. This should be based on your organisation's values and should guide your use of AI. Our membership provides a comprehensive ethical AI framework, which is built around the following key principles:
Beneficence: AI should be used to benefit your beneficiaries and to further your charitable mission.
Non-maleficence: AI should not be used to harm your beneficiaries or to undermine your charitable mission.
Autonomy: Individuals should have control over their own data and should be able to make informed decisions about how it is used.
Justice: AI should be used in a fair and equitable way, and should not discriminate against any individual or group.
Explicability: It should be possible to explain how AI systems make decisions.
Putting Ethics into Practice
Having an ethical framework is important, but it is only the first step. You also need to put these principles into practice. This includes:
Engaging with your stakeholders: Talk to your beneficiaries, staff, and other stakeholders about how you are using AI and listen to their concerns.
Being transparent: Be open and honest about how you are using AI and what you are doing to mitigate the risks.
Investing in training: Make sure that your staff have the skills and knowledge they need to use AI ethically and responsibly.
Regularly reviewing your use of AI: The world of AI is constantly evolving, so it is important to regularly review your use of AI to ensure that it is still aligned with your ethical principles.
