EXPERTS ADVISORY

Challenges abound in the development, implementation and effects of artificial intelligence. Yet people still have the power to limit risks and even foster positive integration of AI—should they choose to shoulder that responsibility.

University of Michigan experts Nigel Melville and Yousif Hassan join the latest episode of Business & Society to explore the nature of risk associated with AI, the challenges of governing a rapidly developing technology, layoffs, human agency, systemic biases and the environmental toll of data centers.

Melville, associate professor of technology and operations at U-M’s Ross School of Business, and Hassan, assistant professor at the Ford School of Public Policy, focus on the desire for transparency surrounding AI’s implementation and the importance of coming to a shared understanding and vision as a society.

Business & Society is a joint production of the Ross School and Michigan News.

“We need to bring together artists, historians, political scientists, economists, and we need to come to a shared understanding. What is this AI thing? What does it mean to us? What are the possibilities?” Melville said. “What are the risks—a shared understanding and a shared vision of what we can do, grapple with and develop solutions to these very vexing problems. It’s a responsibility and a great opportunity for a great university like the University of Michigan.”

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“AI is not really good or bad—but it’s also not neutral, meaning that we can shape the technology,” Hassan said. “Society has the ability to do that, but that’s going to require some hard efforts. A lot of actors and interest groups are making these decisions on our behalf, which is not a good way to have responsible, sustainable innovation. So, in a lot of ways, the focus on democratic deliberation around AI and what society wants to get out of it is so important. And we’re really at a time where it’s becoming more and more urgent.”

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Business & Society is co-produced by JT Godfrey of the Ross School of Business and Jeff Karoub of Michigan News. The audio engineer is Jonah Brockman and editorial production is provided by Mads Henke. Listen to all episodes of the podcast.