Having been involved with AI since 2018, I’ve been closely observing its gradual yet steady rise, accompanied by a fair share of unstructured excitement. While the initial fear of a robot uprising has somewhat subsided, the focus has now shifted to the ethical considerations that will arise as AI integrates into various business practices.
A broad range of new roles will be necessary to manage ethics, governance, and compliance, all of which will become increasingly vital and valuable to organizations.
One of the most critical roles will likely be the AI Ethics Specialist, responsible for ensuring that Agentic AI systems adhere to ethical standards such as fairness and transparency. This position will require the use of specialized tools and frameworks to tackle ethical concerns efficiently, while mitigating legal and reputational risks. Human oversight will also play a key role, ensuring transparency and maintaining a balance between data-driven decisions, artificial intelligence, and human intuition.
Other essential roles, such as Agentic AI Workflow Designer and AI Interaction and Integration Designer, will be tasked with ensuring that AI integrates smoothly across systems while emphasizing transparency, ethics, and adaptability. Additionally, an AI Overseer will be needed to monitor the entire ecosystem of Agentic agents and arbiters, overseeing the decision-making process of AI systems.
For businesses beginning their journey of AI integration, it is crucial to ensure that the technology is implemented responsibly. A valuable resource for this is the United Nations’ AI Principles, which were introduced in 2022 in response to ethical challenges stemming from the widespread adoption of AI.
So, what are these ten principles, and how can they guide responsible AI use?
- Do No Harm
This first principle advocates for the deployment of AI systems in ways that prevent any negative impact on social, cultural, economic, or political environments. AI lifecycles should respect human rights and freedoms, with systems constantly monitored to avoid any long-term harm. - Avoid AI for AI’s Sake
AI should only be used when justified and appropriate, never excessively or unnecessarily. It should complement human needs and objectives, never undermining human dignity in the process. - Safety and Security
It is essential to address safety and security risks throughout the entire lifecycle of AI systems. Robust safety measures, much like those in any other business area, should be applied. - Equality
AI should promote equal access to benefits, risks, and costs while preventing any form of bias, deception, or discrimination. - Sustainability
AI should be deployed with an emphasis on environmental, economic, and social sustainability. Ongoing assessments must be conducted to mitigate negative impacts, particularly for future generations. - Data Privacy, Protection, and Governance
Strong data protection frameworks must be established to ensure privacy and the protection of individual rights, in compliance with legal standards. AI systems should never compromise human privacy. - Human Oversight
Human oversight is necessary to ensure that AI decisions are fair and just. Human-centric design principles should enable humans to intervene at any point, overriding AI decisions if necessary—especially when life-altering decisions are involved. - Transparency and Explainability
Everyone interacting with AI should fully understand the systems they are using, including the decision-making processes involved. The reasons behind AI-driven decisions should be clearly communicated, ensuring they are understandable and transparent. - Responsibility and Accountability
Clear accountability mechanisms should be in place for AI-related decisions, with audits and protections for whistleblowers. Ethical and legal responsibility should rest with humans for any AI-based actions that cause harm. - Inclusivity and Participation
AI deployment should be inclusive, engaging a broad range of stakeholders and ensuring gender equality. A participatory approach, where affected communities are consulted about potential risks and benefits, should be adopted.
