IEEE Ethically Aligned Design Document Elevates the Importance of Ethics in the Development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Autonomous Systems (AS)

PISCATAWAY, NJ, 13 December 2016 – IEEE, the world’s largest technical professional organization dedicated to advancing technology for humanity, today announced the publication of the first version of Ethically Aligned Design: A Vision for Prioritizing Human Wellbeing with Artificial Intelligence and Autonomous Systems that encourages technologists to prioritize ethical considerations in the creation of autonomous and intelligent technologies. Launched by The IEEE Global Initiative for Ethical Considerations in Artificial Intelligence and Autonomous Systems, the document was created by multiple committees of The IEEE Global Initiative comprised of over one hundred global thought leaders and experts in artificial intelligence, ethics, and related issues.

Details on how to submit feedback to the document are available via Submission Guidelines available on The IEEE Global Initiative’s website. All comments and input will be made publicly available and should be sent no later than 6 March 2017.

The mission of The IEEE Global Initiative is to ensure every technologist is educated, trained, and empowered to prioritize ethical considerations in the design and development of autonomous and intelligent systems. By inviting comments for Version One of Ethically Aligned Design, The IEEE Global Initiative provides the opportunity to bring together multiple voices from the Artificial Intelligence and Autonomous Systems (AI/AS) communities with the general public to identify and create broad consensus on pressing ethical issues and recommendations regarding these technologies.

“As we move towards a more fully autonomous world, the first version of Ethically Aligned Design represents a milestone for creating consensus around and developing the methodologies that will ensure humanity utilizes technology that inherently supports and prioritizes our wellbeing and values,” says Konstantinos Karachalios, managing director for IEEE Standard Association. “By providing technologists with peer-driven, practical recommendations for creating ethically aligned autonomous and intelligent products, services, and systems, we can move beyond the fears associated with these technologies and bring valued benefits to humanity today and for the future.”

Version One of Ethically Aligned Design is being released under the Attribution-NonCommercial version of the Creative Commons license for any organization to adopt or utilize, thereby helping expedite ethical considerations in the creation of autonomous and intelligent technologies.

New and existing committees contributing to an updated version of Ethically Aligned Design will be featured at The IEEE Global Initiative’s face-to-face meeting at The Robert S. Strauss Center at The University of Texas at Austin on 5-6 June 2017. Comments received in response to this request for input will be considered by committees and participants of the meeting for potential inclusion in Version Two of Ethically Aligned Design to be released in the fall of 2017.

Ethically Aligned Design will also continue to provide the basis for recommendations from The IEEE Global Initiative to The IEEE Standards Association (IEEE SA) for standards ideas, as in the case of the newly established IEEE P7000™ Working Group, Project Defining Model Processes for Addressing Ethical Concerns During System Design.

Ethically Aligned Design is available for download at The IEEE Global Initiative’s website.

For more information, or to become an Initiative member, please visit the website of The IEEE Global Initiative for Ethical Considerations in Artificial Intelligence and Autonomous Systems or email [email protected].

The IEEE Global Initiative and Ethically Aligned Design contribute to a broader effort being launched at IEEE to foster open, broad and inclusive conversation about ethics in technology, known as the IEEE TechEthics™ program.

To learn more about IEEE SA or about any of its many market-driven initiatives, visit us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, connect with us on LinkedIn, or on the Beyond Standards Blog.

IEEE Standards Association (IEEE SA) is a collaborative organization where innovators raise the world’s standards for technology. IEEE SA provides a globally open, consensus-building environment and platform that empowers people to work together in the development of leading-edge, market-relevant technology standards, and industry solutions shaping a better, safer and sustainable world. For more information, visit https://standards-qa21.ieee.org.

IEEE is the world’s largest technical professional organization dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity. Through its highly cited publications, conferences, technology standards, and professional and educational activities, IEEE is the trusted voice in a wide variety of areas ranging from aerospace systems, computers, and telecommunications to biomedical engineering, electric power, and consumer electronics. Learn more at https://www.ieee.org.