BANGKOK – AI is a term we hear often nowadays for Artificial Intelligence. It is a set of software allowing computers to perform intelligent tasks. The technology has been widely adopted in day to day life, which provides both benefits and consequences from improper usage. The Ministry of a Digital Economy and Society has combined interests with academics and experts to help outline ethical codes for AI development in the future.
The Minister of a Digital Economy and Society, Puttipong Punnakanta revealed a part of the 20-year national strategy involves the enhancement of competitiveness in future industrial development and services, which will include AI adoption to help strengthen the economy and society, in parallel with the development of human resource capabilities. The technology however has potential consequences for misuse, and could be adopted as a tool for warfare by some countries.
To ensure a proper transition into the AI age ethically, the Ministry of a Digital Economy and Society has joined hands with academics and experts from Mahidol University to draft Digital Thailand – AI Ethics Guidelines, which will serve as a manual and provide ethical codes for AI development in government agencies, private firms, regulatory bodies, researchers, designers, developers, and users. The guidelines cover six aspects of development, namely competitiveness and sustainable development; legal regulations and international ethical standards; operational codes and duties; security and privacy; equality, diversity, and fairness; and credibility.
Further consultations will be held to hear opinions from all sides to further refine these draft guidelines, which will become the key development manual for all to follow in order to develop AI technology based on good ethics.
