As AI evolves and becomes more integrated into our lives, it's important to consider its impact on society, privacy, fairness, and more. Below are some examples of ethical challenges related to the use of AI.
With the rise of AI technology, there is concern that some students may use AI tools without their instructor's permission to generate content for their coursework instead of doing the work themselves. This not only goes against the University's Academic Integrity Regulation, but it also undermines the purpose of higher education. For suggestions on how to responsibly use AI as a student, visit the AI & Academic Integrity page on this guide.
AI systems are trained on huge amounts of data, and that data may contain biases and prejudices which influence its outputs. This means that AI may be unintentionally perpetuating harmful biases through its generated content. This is especially concerning as AI is being integrated into various parts of our lives including healthcare, hiring decisions, and the criminal justice system.
Deepfakes are AI-generated images, audio, or video material that manipulate existing media or generate fake media. Often, deepfakes manipulate the face and/or voice of an individual to make it appear like they are saying or doing something that never took place. Some of the main concerns surrounding the creation of deepfakes include violation of individual rights, spread of disinformation, identity theft and fraud, and copyright infringement.
AI’s environmental impact stems from several factors, with energy consumption and water usage being among the most significant. AI data centers consume large amounts of electricity, often from non-renewable sources, and use a lot of water for cooling, which can strain local resources. Additionally, electronic waste contributes to AI’s footprint. As AI continues to grow, using these tools efficiently is crucial to minimizing their environmental impact.
With AI quickly advancing, there is a need for regulation. Without proper protocols put in place, we risk having AI technologies that are not developed or used in a responsible and ethical way. Currently, there is no comprehensive legislation in Canada specific to AI. However, as part of Bill C-27, the Canadian government has proposed new legislation, the Artificial Intelligence and Data Act (AIDA), to ensure the responsible development and use of AI systems. To learn more about AIDA, visit the link below.
AI tools have been shown to "hallucinate" (generate false or made-up information). Be sure to analyze all generated AI content and compare it to reliable sources. Remember that AI relies on its data (which can be inaccurate, biased, and unreliable) to generate responses.
If you use AI to create something, who does it belong to? Determining intellectual property rights has become complicated with the rise of AI tools. AI-generated content might also include elements from existing works or copyrighted material, which presents challenges when it comes to fair dealing and copyright infringement. If you have any questions about copyright, visit our Copyright Guide or contact copyright@smu.ca.
This H5P object was created by Rebecca Sweetman (Associate Director, Educational Technologies at Queen's University) and is available via a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA license.
Check out this video from Exposure Labs that explores the topic of AI algorithms and discrimination: