The ethical challenges posed by AI should not rest solely on the shoulders of companies.
- Aleksandra Pedraszewska of ElevenLabs emphasises the role of academia and regulators in addressing AI ethics.
- Commercial interests might cloud ethical decision-making in tech firms, warns Pedraszewska.
- A tragic incident involving a chatbot underlines the urgency of implementing robust safety measures in AI.
- Recent leadership changes in major AI firms highlight concerns over AI safety.
The complexities inherent in AI ethics demand a collaborative approach, as relying solely on tech companies poses risks. Aleksandra Pedraszewska, ElevenLabs’ head of safety, argues that ethical considerations should not be an internal corporate matter. She stresses the importance of involving academic researchers and regulators, who possess a deeper understanding of policy and ethics without commercial biases.
Pedraszewska expressed concerns that commercial motivations could interfere with ethical decision-making. She believes AI companies should leverage existing solutions from academic research to address content moderation and identify harmful behaviours, rather than developing these solutions independently under potentially biased pressures.
Her comments come amidst growing scrutiny of the AI sector, especially after allegations against Character.AI. A tragic case linked a chatbot to the suicide of a young individual, raising questions about the adequacy of safety measures. Character.AI responded, expressing sorrow but refrained from commenting on the ongoing litigation.
The AI industry is witnessing significant leadership changes, further fuelling concerns over safety. OpenAI recently lost several key figures, including their CTO, amidst debates on AI’s existential risks. Similarly, Google experienced leadership shifts in teams responsible for AI safety compliance.
ElevenLabs, a company focused on replicating human voices digitally, is expanding its presence in London following a successful funding round. The company is committed to ethical practices, such as remunerating voice actors fairly for their contributions to AI model training, having spent over $1 million in compensations. Pedraszewska highlights the collaboration with voice actors as an ethical priority, ensuring that their personal data rights are respected.
The ethical dilemmas in AI necessitate broader collaboration between tech firms, academics, and regulators to ensure comprehensive safeguards.
