KEY TAKEAWAYS
AI built on trust: Not just possible, it’s essential
Artificial intelligence is proliferating while public concerns grow. Thoughtful policy and transparency-minded nonprofits will be crucial to ensuring AI is built the right way.
By WP Creative Group
May 1, 2024
This may come as a surprise, but artificial intelligence (AI) is not the next big thing.
For one, it’s not next. It’s now. AI has already begun to impact every aspect of our lives, from daily tasks and entertainment to a wide spectrum of professional activities. For another, it’s not big. It’s bigger than big. It’s influencing society on a previously unimaginable scale and represents a colossal economic opportunity globally. And finally, it’s not a thing. It’s not even a technology. It’s a movement – a collection of tools, concepts and applications that is expanding and evolving every day.
The scope and scale of AI’s influence means that it’s essential to build it the right way, according to remarks from Linda Griffin, Mozilla’s vice president of global policy, and Jennifer Taylor Hodges, Mozilla’s director of U.S. public policy and government relations, at the Washington Post Live Futurist Summit, a gathering of policymakers and innovators in conversation about the future of AI, where Griffin was a featured speaker. Both sounded the call that it’s now, in these early days of implementation, when companies, nonprofits and government agencies need to work together to establish the foundation of AI as safe and transparent. Hodges and Griffin underscored the point that a small group of players should not exert massive control over everyone else and offered the following key takeaways for ensuring AI yields a net positive for humanity.
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For AI to benefit humanity, it must be trustworthy
While most people understand the power behind AI, few trust it. That discrepancy creates a massive rift between builders and consumers, a rift that needs to be healed in the near-term future. “We’re advocating for tech that’s built and deployed in ways that support accountability, human agency and advance the health of the internet more generally,” said Hodges. Smart policies and regulations that uphold individual liberties while encouraging competition and innovation will yield huge dividends in the years to come.
Hear Linda Griffin explain how Mozilla is a “special beast” in the AI sphere.
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The open approach is safe and can be profitable
Artificial intelligence presents a once-in-a-lifetime global economic opportunity – one that should benefit a wide swath of people, not just a few gatekeepers. Open-source development is the only option that will provide multiple stakeholders with opportunities for both profit and accountability. “Open source has been the bedrock of innovation and growth for the past 25 years,” said Hodges. “Whether we know it or not, most of us are using tools built on open source every day.” Many of the programming languages, operating systems and positive online communities we use every day are open-source projects co-created by like-minded innovators whose first priority was providing a service and public good.
Hear Jennifer Taylor Hodges on why Mozilla is bullish on protecting small AI players.
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Past lessons can and should guide AI
Today’s AI trends echo yesterday’s social media mistakes and even the browser wars of the early internet era. When only a small group of companies controls an ecosystem, consumer privacy is often at risk and the societal impact becomes murky. “The Mozilla project was born really because one company was trying to dominate our access to the internet and the ability of other businesses to build on the web,” said Griffin. “Now we’re seeing the same things happening again.” Essentially Mozilla’s concern is that the people who broke the internet are the ones developing AI and unless we broaden the pool of AI stakeholders, history could repeat itself.
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Consumers are demanding smart, safe AI
The public is no longer content to sit on the sidelines. Today, people are informed, engaged and passionate about the trends impacting our lives. Because of this, there’s a high demand for AI that respects privacy and protects our data. Griffin explained, “There are so many polls that show that people want technology they can trust and that they feel safe using.” And they don’t yet have it. To fill that market gap, consumers need to know that responsible actors committed to our long-term interests are leading.
Hear Linda Griffin outline Mozilla’s belief in the market demand for trustworthy AI.
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AI needs effective, reasonable guardrails in order to thrive
For too many recent technological movements, privacy was an afterthought. With AI, it needs to be at the center. “Privacy, in our view, is not just a feature to be added to AI systems,” said Hodges. “It’s really the foundation of AI development and governance.” Mozilla is collaborating with Columbia University and other global leaders to form a broad coalition that can stand up to large corporations. When everyone has a seat at the table, there’s less risk of AI that exploits our data and privacy for the short-term profits of a few.
Hear Jennifer Taylor Hodges on the fundamental legislation Mozilla feels the United States needs.
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