The Road to Accountable AI

Latest Episodes:

Diya Wynn: People-Centric Technology Jun 27, 2024

Show notes

Kevin Werbach speaks with Diya Wynn, the responsible AI lead at Amazon Web Services (AWS). Diya shares how she pioneered a formal practice for ethical AI at AWS, and explains AWS's "Well-Architected" framework to assist customers in responsibly deploying AI. Kevin and Diya also discuss the significance of diversity and human bias in AI systems, revealing the necessity of incorporating diverse perspectives to create more equitable AI outcomes.

Diya Wynn leads a team at AWS that helps customers implement responsible AI practices. She has over 25 years of experience as a technologist scaling products for acquisition; driving inclusion, diversity & equity initiatives; and leading operational transformation. She serves on the AWS Health Equity Initiative Review Committee; mentors at Tulane University, Spelman College, and GMI; was a mayoral appointee in Environment Affairs for six years; and guest lectures regularly on responsible and inclusive technology.

Responsible AI for the greater good: insights from AWS's Diya Wynn

Ethics In AI: A Conversation With Diya Wynn, AWS Responsible AI Lead

Want to learn more? Engage live with Professor Werbach and other Wharton faculty experts in Wharton's new Strategies for Accountable AI online executive education program. It's perfect for managers, entrepreneurs, and advisors looking to harness AI's power while addressing its risks.

Paula Goldman: Putting Humans at the Helm Jun 20, 2024

Show notes

Kevin Werbach is joined by Paula Goldman, Chief Ethical and Humane Use Officer at Salesforce, to discuss the pioneering efforts of her team in building a culture of ethical technology use. Paula shares insights on aligning risk assessments and technical mitigations with business goals to bring stakeholders on board. She explains how AI governance functions in a large business with enterprise customers, who have distinctive needs and approaches. Finally, she highlights the shift from "human in the loop" to "human at the helm" as AI technology advances, stressing that today's investments in trustworthy AI are essential for managing tomorrow's more advanced systems.

Paula Goldman leads Salesforce in creating a framework to build and deploy ethical technology that optimizes social benefit. Prior to Salesforce, she served Global Lead of the Tech and Society Solutions Lab at Omidyar Network, and has extensive entrepreneurial experience managing frontier market businesses.

Creating safeguards for the ethical use of technology

Trusted AI Needs a Human at the Helm

Responsible Use of Technology: The Salesforce Case Study

Navrina Singh: AI Alignment in Practice Jun 13, 2024

Show notes

Kevin Werbach speaks with Navrina Singh of Credo AI, which automates AI oversight and regulatory compliance. Singh addresses the increasing importance of trust and governance in the AI space. She discusses the need to standardize and scale oversight mechanisms by helping companies align and translate their systems to include all stakeholders and comply with emerging global standards. Kevin and Navrina also explore the importance of sociotechnical approaches to AI governance, the necessity of mandated AI disclosures, the democratization of generative AI, adaptive policymaking, and the need for enhanced AI literacy within organizations to keep pace with evolving technologies and regulatory landscapes.

Navrina Singh is the Founder and CEO of Credo AI, a Governance SaaS platform empowering enterprises to deliver responsible AI. Navrina previously held multiple product and business leadership roles at Microsoft and Qualcomm. She is a member of the U.S. Department of Commerce National Artificial Intelligence Advisory Committee (NAIAC), an executive board member of Mozilla Foundation, and a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum.

Credo.ai

ISO/ 42001 standard for AI governance

Navrina Singh Founded Credo AI To Align AI With Human Values

Scott Zoldi: Using the Best AI Tools for the Job Jun 06, 2024

Show notes

Kevin Werbach speaks with Scott Zoldi of FICO, which pioneered consumer credit scoring in the 1950s and now offers a suite of analytics and fraud detection tools. Zoldi explains the importance of transparency and interpretability in AI models, emphasizing a "simpler is better" approach to creating clear and understandable algorithms. He discusses FICO's approach to responsible AI, which includes establishing model governance standards, and enforcing these standards through the use of blockchain technology. Zoldi explains how blockchain provides an immutable record of the model development process, enhancing accountability and trust. He also highlights the challenges organizations face in implementing responsible AI practices, particularly in light of upcoming AI regulations, and stresses the need for organizations to catch up in defining governance standards to ensure trustworthy and accountable AI models.

Dr. Scott Zoldi is Chief Analytics Officer of FICO, responsible for analytics and AI innovation across FICO's portfolio. He has authored more than 130 patents, and is a long-time advocate and inventor in the space of responsible AI. He was nomianed for American Banker's 2024 Innovator Award and received Corinium's Future Thinking Award in 2022. Zoldi is a member of the Board of Advisors for FinReg Lab, and serves on the Boards of Directors of Software San Diego and San Diego Cyber Center of Excellence. He received his Ph.D. in theoretical and computational physics from Duke University. Navigating the Wild AI with Dr. Scott Zoldi How to Use Blockchain to Build Responsible AI The State of Responsible AI in Financial Services

Olivia Gambelin: Ethical AI as Good Business Practice May 30, 2024

Show notes

Professor Kevin Werbach and AI ethicist Olivia Gambelin discuss the moral responsibilities surrounding Artificial Intelligence, and the practical steps companies should take to address tehm. Olivia explains how companies can begin their responsible AI journey, starting with taking inventory of their systems and using Olivia's Value Canvas to map the ethical terrain. Kevin and Olivia delve into the potential reasons companies avoid investing in ethical AI, the financial and compliance benefits of making the investment, and best practices of companies who succeed in AI governance. Olivia also discusses her initiative to build a network of responsible AI practitioners and promote development of the field.

Olivia Gameblin is founder and CEO of Ethical Intelligence, an advisory firm specializing in Ethics-as-a-Service for businesses ranging from Fortune 500 companies to Series A startups. Her book, Responsible AI, offers a comprehensive guide to integrating ethical practices for AI deployment. She serves on the Founding Editorial Board for Springer Nature's AI and Ethics Journal, co-chairs the IEEE AI Expert Network Criteria Committee, and advises the Ethical AI Governance Group and The Data Tank. She is deeply involved in both the Silicon Valley startup ecosystem and advising on AI policy and regulation in Europe.

Olivia Gameblin's Website

Responsible AI: Implement an Ethical Approach in Your Organization

The EI (Ethical Intelligence) Network

The Values Canvas

Beth Noveck: Effective and Accountable AI in the Public Sector May 23, 2024

Show notes

Join Professor Kevin Werbach and Beth Noveck, New Jersey's first Chief AI Strategist, as they explore AI's transformative power in public governance. Beth reveals how AI is revolutionizing government operations, from rewriting complex unemployment insurance letters in plain English to analyzing call data for faster responses. They discuss New Jersey's innovative use of generative AI to cut response times in half, empowering public servants to better serve their communities while balancing ethical considerations and privacy concerns. Learn about New Jersey's training programs, sandboxes, and pilot projects designed to integrate AI safely into public service. Beth also shares inspiring global examples, like Taiwan's citizen-engaged decision-making processes and Iceland's Better Reykjavik initiative, which inform local projects like New Jersey's mycareernj.gov career coaching tool.

Beth Simone Noveck directs the Governance Lab (GovLab) at New York University's Tandon School of Engineering. As the inaugural U.S. Deputy Chief Technology Officer and leader of the White House Open Government Initiative under President Obama, she crafted innovative strategies to enhance governmental transparency, cooperation, and public engagement. Noveck authored "Wiki Government," a seminal work advocating for the use of digital tools to revolutionize civic interaction. Her roles have included Chief Innovation Officer for New Jersey and Senior Advisor for the Open Government Initiative, earning her wide acclaim and numerous accolades for her contributions to the field. Noveck's work emphasizes the transformative potential of technology in fostering more open, transparent, and participatory governance structures.

Open Government Initiative

The GovLab

Wiki Government

Beth Noveck TED Talk: Demand a more open-source government

Jean-Enno Charton: Operationalizing AI Ethics May 16, 2024

Show notes

Join Professor Kevin Werbach and Jean-Enno Charton, Director of Digital Ethics and Bioethics at Merck KGAA, as they explore the ethical challenges of AI in healthcare and life sciences. Charton delves into the evolution of Merck's AI ethics program, which stemmed from their bioethics advisory panel addressing complex ethical dilemmas in areas like fertility research and clinical trials. He details the formation of a dedicated digital ethics panel, incorporating industry experts and academics, and developing the Principle at Risk Analysis (PARA) tool to identify and mitigate ethical risks in AI applications. Highlighting the significance of trust, transparency, and pragmatic solutions, Charton discusses how these principles are applied across Merck's diverse business units. Listen in to thoroughly examine the intersection between bioethics, trust, and AI.

Jean-Enno Charton is the Chief Data and AI Officer at Merck KGAA, a global pharmaceutical and life sciences company. He chairs the Digital Ethics Advisory Panel, focusing on ethical data use and AI applications within the company. Charton led the development of Merck's Code of Digital Ethics, guiding ethical principles such as autonomy, justice, and transparency in digital initiatives. A recognized speaker on digital ethics, his work contributes to responsible data-driven technology deployment in the healthcare and life sciences sector.

Merck Code of Digital Ethics

IEEE Ethically Aligned Design

Principle-at-Risk Analysis

Dominique Shelton Leipzig: Building Trust When Every Company is an AI Company May 09, 2024

Show notes

Join Professor Kevin Werbach and Dominique Shelton Leipzig, an expert in data privacy and technology law, as they share practical insights on AI's transformative potential and regulatory challenges in this episode on The Road to Accountable AI. They dissect the ripple effects of recent legislation, and why setting industry standards and codifying trust in AI are more than mere legal checkboxes—they're the bedrock of innovation and integrity in business. Transitioning from theory to practice, this episode uncovers what it truly means to govern AI systems that are accurate, safe, and respectful of privacy. Kevin and Dominique navigate through the high-risk scenarios outlined by the EU and discuss how companies can future-proof their brands by adopting AI governance strategies.

Dominique Shelton Leipzig is a partner and head of the Ad Tech Privacy & Data Management team and the Global Data Innovation team at the law firm Mayer Brown. She is the author of the recent book Trust: Responsible AI, Innovation, Privacy and Data Leadership. Dominique co-founded NxtWork, a non-profit aimed at diversifying leadership in corporate America, and has trained over 50,000 professionals in data privacy, AI, and data leadership. She has been named a "Legal Visionary" by the Los Angeles Times, a "Top Cyber Lawyer" by the Daily Journal, and a "Leading Lawyer" by Legal 500.

Trust: Responsible AI, Innovation, Privacy and Data Leadership

Mayer Brown Digital Trust Summit

A Framework for Assessing AI Risk

Dominique's Data Privacy Recommendation Enacted in Biden's EO

Dragos Tudorache: Next Steps for the World's First Comprehensive AI Law May 02, 2024

Show notes

Join Professor Werbach and Dragos Tudorache, co-rapporteur of the EU AI Act and one of the most essential AI policymakers in the world, to discuss the world's urgent need for AI regulation and collaboration. They discuss the nuances of the Act's attempt to balance mitigating risk and fostering innovation and dissect the legislation's approach to ensuring trust in AI through technology-neutral language and adaptable mechanisms. Next, they examine the Act's strategic focus on high-risk AI applications, filling gaps not covered by existing EU tech regulations like GDPR and the Digital Services Act. The conversation delves into the rapid integration of generative AI provisions into the Act, its enforcement challenges similar to those experienced with GDPR, and the critical importance of global coordination in AI policy. Tudorache contrasts AI policies between the EU and the US and offers practical advice for businesses preparing for the AI Act's implementation. The discussion also touches on the potential need for future regulations, providing critical insights for stakeholders in the AI sector.

Dragos Tudorache, a Romanian member of the European Parliament and a key figure in European AI policy, has significantly shaped the discourse around AI regulation since his election in 2019. His dedicated leadership in chairing the Special Committee on Artificial Intelligence in the Digital Age (AIDA) set the groundwork for critical legislative efforts. As one of the two principal negotiators of the EU's pioneering AI Act, Tudorache played an instrumental role in crafting the first comprehensive AI law globally.

EU AI Act

Washington Post calls Dragos Tudorache "The Smartest Politician on AI"

Richard Benjamins: A Multi-Year Journey Toward Responsible Enterprise AI Apr 25, 2024

Show notes

In this episode, Professor Kevin Werbach and Dr. Richard Benjamins, former Chief Responsible AI Officer at Telefónica, discuss Telefónica's journey towards responsible AI, corporate strategies to address these challenges, and Benjamins' views on generative AI and the European AI Act. They explore the role of the Responsible AI Champion in embedding ethical practices across business functions and discuss the dynamics of AI ethics committees, which vary from permission-based to problem-based frameworks. Their conversation highlights the scarcity of AI ethics expertise and the diverse requirements for ethical oversight depending on a company's AI integration level. Benjamins' insights significantly enhance understanding of the global AI regulatory landscape and its future implications.

Dr. Richard Benjamins is a leading expert in responsible AI, previously serving as Chief Responsible AI Officer and Chief AI and Data Strategist at Telefónica. Recognized among the top 100 influential figures in data-driven business, he co-founded OdiseIA, an observatory focused on the ethical and social impacts of AI. His career highlights include being the Group Chief Data Officer at AXA and holding key roles at Telefónica, contributing extensively to Big Data and Analytics. Dr. Benjamins founded Telefónica's Big Data for Social Good department, showcasing his commitment to leveraging data for societal benefits. With an academic background in Cognitive Science and Artificial Intelligence, he has also been involved in academia and research across the globe. His advisory role at BigML underscores his dedication to making machine learning more accessible. His projects have ranged from environmental efforts like air quality measurement in Madrid to healthcare advancements during the pandemic, embodying his advocacy for responsible use of AI to address both current and future challenges in the field.

The AI Way in Telefónica

UNESCO Ethics of Artificial Intelligence

Telefónica's Approach to the Use of Responsible AI

From AI Principles to Responsible AI: Challenges

EU AI Act