ETHICAL LEADERSHIP
AI POWERED GLOBAL ENTITIES
Enterprises must ensure they operate ethically – Sanjeewaka Kulathunga
In today’s interconnected world, AI powered technologies are essential for global businesses as they drive innovation, efficiency and growth. However, as these technologies evolve rapidly, so do the ethical challenges they present.
Therefore, it’s necessary to apply ethical leadership principles when managing AI powered global businesses.
Challenges arise when AI and ethics intersect, and leaders need to implement profound solutions to overcome them, and ensure responsible and sustainable business practices.
AI systems can perpetuate biases present in the data they’re provided and deliver discriminatory outcomes. Ethical organisations must prioritise fairness and inclusivity, promote diverse datasets and continuously monitor algorithms to mitigate biases.
In addition, AI always relies on vast amounts of data, which raises concerns about privacy and data protection.
Managers are responsible for ensuring transparency and consent, installing robust security measures that can safeguard the data of individuals from leaks, and building trust with customers and stakeholders for the sustainable existence of corporate entities.
They should ensure compliance with relevant regulations, prioritise user consent, and adopt privacy preserving techniques such as anonymisation and encryption to safeguard personal data.
AI algorithms can be more complex and opaquer, making it difficult to understand how decisions are made. Ethical leaders must prioritise the abilities of explanation and transparency in AI systems, which will enable pertinent stakeholders to understand the reasoning behind automated decisions.
These AI powered businesses face dilemmas regarding the ethical use of technology. So managers must establish clear guidelines and frameworks for AI deployment, after considering the potential impact on individuals, society and the environment.
AI automation has the highest potential to displace various jobs in different industries, raising concerns about the wellbeing of workers. Managers must anticipate and manage these workforce transitions by providing reskilling and upskilling opportunities, which will foster a sustainable and inclusive work environment for their employees.
Business leaders must develop and implement comprehensive ethical frameworks and guidelines that are specifically tailored to AI powered businesses.
These frameworks should address issues such as algorithmic bias, privacy, fairness and accountability. They should be regularly reviewed and updated to keep pace with technological advancements without confusion.
Managers should be mature enough to value diversity and inclusion in AI development and deployment, and keep the balance between humans and machines in a working setup. This involves fostering diverse teams and perspectives, incorporating ethical considerations into the design process, and regularly auditing algorithms to identify and mitigate biases.
Leaders need to promote the development of AI systems that are transparent and explainable.
This can be achieved through techniques such as interpretable machine learning, model documentation and user-friendly interfaces that enable stakeholders to understand the decision-making processes of AI algorithms.
Promoting a culture of ethical decision making in AI powered businesses by collaborating with employees creates an amicable working environment. This involves providing training and resources for employees, establishing clear channels for reporting ethical concerns, and fostering a supportive environment that promotes ethical discussions and debates among employees and management.
Ethical leaders should foster collaboration between academia, industry, policy makers and civil society to collectively address ethical challenges associated with AI. They should advocate for responsible AI governance frameworks and standards that promote accountability and transparency across industry.
Furthermore, they should actively engage in ethical discussions surrounding the broader societal implications of AI. They have a responsibility to contribute to the development of ethical frameworks and policies that guide the responsible use of AI technology.
By participating in these types of social dialogue and collaborating with other stakeholders, leaders can influence the direction of AI development, and contribute to more ethical and socially responsible adoption of AI.
They can also harness the benefits of AI to enhance their leadership skills and make data driven decisions that promote organisational success while complying with globally accepted corporate ethics.
Organisations can foster a culture of trust, inclusivity and innovation, by positioning themselves as ethical and responsible enterprises in the age of AI.
AI systems can perpetuate biases