In today’s dynamic landscape, technology has evolved from being just a set of tools to becoming the cornerstone of our advancement. It has revolutionized communication, healthcare, and global connectivity, opening new horizons for growth and collaboration.
However, this transformative power comes with ethical dilemmas and societal challenges. From cybersecurity threats to the ethical implications of AI, we find ourselves navigating a delicate balance. IT leaders must understand the extensive implications of innovation to guide their teams effectively, and robust frameworks must be established to ensure efficient global implementation. Atti Riazi, SVP and CIO at Hearst, eloquently addressed this in her insightful keynote presentation at the Avasant Empowering Beyond Summit 2024, held in Hollywood, Calif.
The Promise of Technological Advancement
The rapid pace of technological development has brought about extraordinary changes in various fields. Innovations in genetic engineering, medicine, and agriculture have solved enormous problems, improved quality of life, and created new opportunities. The internet has changed communication and commerce, connecting people all over the globe and facilitating exceptional economic growth. The healthcare sector has shifted from being technology-assisted, human-enabled to being technology-enabled and human-assisted. Today, technology holds significantly more power than it did a decade ago. During the opening keynote on the first day of EBS 2024, Atti Riazi emphasized the “butterfly effect,” illustrating how small technological innovations can lead to monumental societal shifts.
The COVID-19 pandemic could be considered a butterfly effect, as it exemplified the unintended consequences of global interdependence. While digital solutions in healthcare and education surged, the economic impact was staggering, underscoring the need for resilience in the face of unforeseen disruptions.
In a technology context, a case in point is the development of AI, which offers great promise not only to revolutionize industries through enhanced efficiencies but also to foster economic growth and solve difficult problems. AI has the potential to change health, education, and transportation, offering solutions that were once only found in science fiction.
Furthermore, AI and automation are driving the next wave of productivity across sectors by offering tailored product recommendations, fraud detection, and anomaly identification. Companies have been quick to invest in AI, particularly generative AI (Gen AI) for these benefits. Our research shows that many hundreds of companies have already integrated some form of Gen AI into their operations. These innovations will be crucial to business competitiveness, and, therefore, could be essential to overall economic health.
Small-scale technological innovations typically provoke massive shifts in society—health AI is a perfect example. AI algorithms can analyze medical images—such as mammograms and lung scans—much faster and often better than human experts.
For instance, the Mayo Clinic’s Polycystic Kidney Disease Center employs AI to evaluate the total kidney volume in patients with polycystic kidney disease. This advanced technology can predict loss in kidney function within a few seconds, while previously, the same process would take much longer, with possible human errors. Such improvements in diagnostic efficiency not only enhance predictive accuracy for faster intervention and improved patient outcomes but also streamline operations and reduce costs for healthcare businesses. The integration of AI in medical imaging exemplifies how seemingly small technological advancements can revolutionize healthcare, ultimately benefiting society on a grand scale and providing significant business advantages through increased efficiency and reduced operational costs.
South Korea is also harnessing technology’s potential in non-IT sectors. Their Ministry of Education is expected to launch AI-powered digital textbooks for primary and secondary schools by 2025, representing an incredible technological transformation in the country’s education sector. By integrating AI into the classroom, South Korea will foster a more equitable and inclusive educational environment, ensuring that all students have access to high-quality education.
The Peril of Unchecked Innovation
However, the dark side of technological progress cannot be ignored. The rise of cybercrime, human trafficking via the dark web, and vulnerabilities exposed by cyberwars, highlight the risks associated with our integrated world. In her EBS keynote, Riazi noted the stark contrast between the optimism of California’s tech sector and the “doom and gloom” of Hollywood narratives, particularly in movies such as, “Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning,” which depicts AI as a rogue force with the potential to upend society.
For instance, the NotPetya cyberattack of 2017 is a reminder of the potential dangers of unbridled technological innovation. NotPetya was fundamentally a large-scale disruption attack disguised as ransomware. It crippled critical infrastructure in Ukraine and quickly spread across the globe, resulting in billions of dollars in damages. NotPetya highlights how cyberthreats have evolved beyond being geared solely towards financial gain to being utilized as geopolitical weapons. Given the significant political and economic impacts of technology, it is crucial for leaders to proactively leverage its power to stay ahead of emerging threats while addressing and preventing major global crises. Though there is much to be gained from technological innovation, substantial risks also require rigorous management to prevent such levels of destruction.
Ethical Considerations and the Uncertainty Principle
As we move forward with technological advancement, ethical considerations are of paramount importance. The subjective nature of good and evil, exemplified by the uncertainty principle in physics, further adds to the difficulties associated with understanding the impact of technology. Riazi referenced David Hume’s perspective on causality, reminding us that observing an effect does not necessarily mean we understand the underlying cause.
There are rising ethical concerns as AI takes on larger decision-making roles. While AI offers benefits such as increased efficiency and cost reduction, it also presents risks such as bias and insufficient oversight. Experts Michael Sandel and Joseph Fuller highlight the danger of AI perpetuating discrimination and the critical need for regulatory frameworks. This underscores the importance of thoughtful implementation and robust regulation to ensure AI advancements align with ethical standards and serve human interests responsibly.
Consequently, countries worldwide are actively designing and implementing AI governance legislation and policies to address the proliferation of AI-powered technologies. The US employs a sector-specific approach to AI regulation, tailoring rules and guidelines to specific domains such as healthcare and finance. This method allows for nuanced oversight that addresses the unique challenges and risks within each sector. However, a comprehensive federal framework for AI regulation is still in development. Efforts are ongoing to create overarching legislation that will standardize AI governance across all industries, ensuring consistent and robust safeguards while promoting innovation and addressing ethical concerns.
The EU has introduced the EU AI Act, a groundbreaking legal framework for AI regulation. This act uses a risk-based approach, with varying regulations based on the risk level of AI systems. High-risk applications, such as those in medicine, education, and human resources, must meet stringent requirements for robustness, accuracy, and cybersecurity. In contrast, minimal-risk systems, like recommendation engines, are subject to lighter regulations. This approach aims to ensure safety and reliability while fostering innovation.
China has directed significant attention toward the development of generative AI technologies and has concurrently established stringent regulatory frameworks to leverage AI capabilities and mitigate associated risks. This dual approach underscores China’s commitment to fostering innovation in AI while ensuring its responsible deployment across various sectors.
As stated, the technological landscape needs to be navigated with caution to understand its advantages and pitfalls. Although the promise that innovations such as AI and digital technology may usher in an era of prosperity and enhanced quality of life, it is crucial to maintain a close eye as we approach these developments. The impact of technological innovation extends beyond the IT world. As emphasized by Riazi in her EBS keynote presentation, “We still have a paradox, because we think technology innovation is just about hardware, software, and cloud services, but it’s really about the experience of technology on society, economy, politics, and the environment.” The balance in embracing technological changes and mitigating widespread, associated risks lies in proactive, ethical, and inclusive governance. International cooperation, investment in regulatory frameworks, and a bias toward ethical considerations, along with involving other sectors to address real-world problems, can unlock the transformational power of technology. By truly leveraging technology’s capabilities and applying them across multiple spheres of society, we can ensure a future where innovation thrives alongside ethical considerations. This holistic approach can create a world where both advancement and integrity exist side by side.
As we navigate the “dual-edged sword” of technological progress, it is crucial to balance the immense promise of innovation with its potential perils. While advancements in AI, healthcare, and education hold transformative potential, they also present ethical dilemmas and societal challenges that require vigilant oversight. By fostering proactive, ethical, and inclusive governance through international cooperation and strong regulatory frameworks, we can realize the power of technologies for their responsible use across various sectors. Ensuring that technological advancements prioritize society’s collective well-being will allow us to create a future where innovation and integrity coexist.
By Shirvana Bachu, Avasant