Ethical principles for the use of AI
Why an AI code of ethics is worthwhile
For organisations, ethical guidelines for the use of AI are a way to manage risk and promote trust. While AI can perform many tasks efficiently, it is not capable of moral reasoning like humans. The development and use of AI requires human guidance and oversight to ensure its positive impact on society. At the same time, they reflect the values and desired culture of the organisation. Ethical guidelines for the use of AI are a key element of responsible AI use. Establishing and following these guidelines promotes trust, ensures compliance with regulations and helps manage AI risks. A future where AI works for the benefit of people is possible when its development and use are based on clear principles. The Code of Ethics will also help staff to consider the different perspectives on the use of AI and to understand the boundaries and rules around its use.
Ethical guidelines help:
- Identify the responsibility of the user: who is responsible for the end result of the AI.
- Ensure human rights and equality: the guidelines set the boundary conditions for how AI can be used in a fair and equitable way.
- Minimise risks: they provide guidelines for identifying and managing risks.
- Promote transparency and trust: clear principles increase the trust of customers and stakeholders in the organisation.
- Support compliance with regulations: legislation on AI is evolving, and ethical guidelines can help organisations prepare for future requirements.
The municipality will assess the potential impact of AI and monitor its use on a regular basis. The municipality commits to regularly reviewing the currency of its ethical principles and updating them as necessary.
Our ethical principles are
We develop services that use data and AI based on people’s needs and by listening to them.
We communicate as clearly as possible how and where we use data and AI. People have a right to know how AI systems work and how decisions made with them can be explained.
Responsibility and data protection guide the collection of data, the building of algorithms and AI solutions, as well as their use. We only use data under our own control.
Respecting the rights of all people is the overriding principle in the use of data. AI systems must not favour or discriminate against any group of people or create inequalities.
AI applications must respect privacy and ensure that personal data is protected and used appropriately.
AI-enabled information systems are well protected and well managed. We assess and minimise potential risks in the data and its processing.
AI solutions are under human guidance and control, and humans are always ultimately responsible.