As AI continues to transform our world, the ethical use of this technology is more critical than ever. ustwo hosted a panel discussion with industry leaders to explore responsible AI, focusing on ways companies can innovate rapidly without compromising their values.
Panellists
- Janine McKelvey, General Counsel and Group Data Privacy & Ethics Officer at BT
- Rachel Coldicutt, Founder at Careful Trouble
- Romain Dardour, Beauty Tech Head of Product at L'Oréal
- HOST: Nayan Jain, Executive Director of AI at ustwo
Key Takeaways
1. Establish your AI principles through the values of your organisation.
AI development should be rooted in the core values that define your organisation. What do you stand for, and how does this influence your approach to AI? These principles set the standards for behaviour across all teams. Romain Dardour from L'Oréal emphasised that the company never uses AI to generate face images or alter someone’s skin, ensuring all imagery reflects "real beauty". This redline was established from the offset in their AI journey.
2. Responsible AI is a practice throughout the whole development cycle.
Start from Day 0. If you haven’t started yet, start now. It’s about a mindset that places the human story at the centre of your product.
The nature of how digital products can spread means that they can often reach initially unexpected users, which results in using products in unanticipated and unintended ways. We have to be consistently cognisant of this. Even if it’s not clear what risks might emerge, a safe & continuous environment for testing is crucial.
3. Maintaining discipline and standards
Best practice governance and robust frameworks are vital to holding teams accountable. Using AI responsibly also means using it judiciously. Focus on identifying and solving the problem at hand, and ask yourself whether AI is even necessary as part of the solution.
4. Role of government and regulation
Janine McKelvey highlighted that regulators often lag behind and operate very differently from technology organisations. Being proactive and principle-based ensures that businesses can navigate the regulatory landscape effectively and be a leader.
5. Responsible AI can be a differentiator to creating breakthrough products.
As AI cycles through periods of hype and concern, maintaining clear and transparent processes does not mean watering down products but can be a significant differentiator and a catalyst for innovation.
For instance, Apple’s new personal intelligence system – announced the same week we held the panel – ensures privacy by initiating requests on-device first. This exemplifies how transparent and responsible practices can set companies apart.
Final Wrap-up
Acting responsibly with AI isn't just about following regulations; it fosters innovation and creates standout products that make a real impact. Establish core principles and as Rachel Coldicutt wisely put it, "If something feels weird, don’t do it.”
For the full conversation, watch the video above or head to ustwo’s YouTube channel.