Artificial Intelligence and ELSI: What is the Role of an STS Researcher?

• In Event: Concepts and Practices of ELSI: 2. Practices Beyond ELSI?

Abstract

The term “ELSI” has been used in ICT/AI circles in Japan since 2013. The author established an ad hoc network group called AIR (Acceptable Intelligence with Responsibility) with colleagues in 2014 and formed an interdisciplinary network to indicate problems within ICT/AI research and prevent problems from being overlooked. AIR was formed in response to the dispute that occurred in Japan in December 2013 when the Japanese Society for Artificial Intelligence (JSAI) journal cover design evoked a gender-related controversy. This dispute also urged the JSAI to build an ethical committee within the society in 2014 and it released its “Ethical Guidelines” in 2017. Outside of academia, the Japanese government is also eager to create research and development guidelines for AI. The government committee includes AI/ICT researchers, social science and humanities experts, and practitioners such as lawyers and NPO/NGOs in order to discuss the ELSI and R&D guiding principles. The author is involved in most of these academic and governmental AI-ELSI activities in Japan. In 2017, the author was awarded for significant contributions to science and technology. The award introduces the author’s activity as “incorporating STS perspectives” with the academic and government communities by creating interdisciplinary and international networks and holding events including various interdisciplinary discussions.. These activities differ from the “traditional” definition of ELSI. By introducing a network-based ELSI practice, the author will discuss the role of STS researchers and their social expectations on AI domain.

Author

• Arisa Ema