Episode 84
Decoding AI: Trust, Ethics, and the Path to Inclusive Innovation
We meet Steph Wright, Head of the Scottish AI Alliance
Join Zoe Amar and Paul Thomas on Starts at the Top for a crucial conversation with Steph Wright, the dynamic Head of the Scottish AI Alliance. In this insightful episode, we delve into the landscape of artificial intelligence, exploring how we can move beyond the hype to build a future where AI is not only innovative but also fundamentally trustworthy, ethical, and inclusive.
Steph brings a refreshingly diverse perspective to the AI conversation, drawing from her fascinating background that spans astrophysics, the arts, and the third sector. She shares her unique journey and how these varied experiences have shaped her commitment to ensuring AI benefits everyone in society.
In this engaging discussion, Zoe, Paul, and Steph unpack:
A Unique Leadership Lens: Discover how Steph's unconventional career path informs her holistic approach to technology and her unwavering belief in the power of diverse perspectives within the AI field.
Beyond the Buzzwords: The Imperative of Ethics and Inclusion: We move beyond the technical jargon to address the fundamental importance of embedding ethical considerations and inclusivity at the very core of AI development. Steph challenges the notion of these being secondary concerns, highlighting their crucial role in creating truly beneficial technologies.
Challenging the "Bigger is Better" Mentality: Explore why the relentless pursuit of increasingly large and powerful AI models can often overshadow the real-world impact and potential for harm. We discuss the need to shift focus towards tangible value and responsible application.
Unveiling the Hidden Costs of AI: This crucial part of the conversation examines the often-overlooked environmental and social implications of large language models and AI development, including energy consumption and the ethical sourcing of training data.
Amplifying Critical Voices in the AI Narrative: Hear Steph's perspective on the growing concerns and pushback from creative industries and other sectors regarding the current trajectory of AI, emphasizing the need for more diverse and dissenting voices to shape its future.
The Vital Role of Diverse AI: Learn about the impactful work of Diverse AI in fostering a more representative and equitable ecosystem within the artificial intelligence space, ensuring that a wider range of perspectives contribute to its development and deployment.
Navigating Your First Steps in AI: A Leader's Guide: For leaders and organisations just beginning to explore the potential of AI, Steph offers invaluable and practical advice on where to start, how to prioritize ethical considerations from the outset, and why a deep understanding of your specific challenges should always precede the technological solution.
Zoe and Paul also delve into:
The Charity Sector's Voice on AI Policy: A discussion about the Charity AI Task Force's important response to the UK government's AI action plan, underscoring the essential role of civil society organizations in ensuring that AI works for the benefit of all members of society.
Exploring AI's Impact on Accountancy: Insights into a newly released global research report examining the accountancy sector's eagerness and preparedness for AI adoption, highlighting both the opportunities and the potential challenges.
A Key Takeaway from Steph:
"We need to move beyond simply asking 'can we build it?' and start asking 'should we build it, and for whose benefit?' True innovation lies in creating AI that serves humanity ethically and inclusively."
Thank you for listening to Starts at the Top!
Charity AI Task Force response to government AI action plan
Chartered Accountants Worldwide - report on accountants and AI
Scottish AI Alliance
Steph Wright on LinkedIn
Please leave us a review if you enjoy what you hear!
Editing and production - Syren Studios with Paul Thomas
Music by Joseph McDade https://josephmcdade.com/music
Full transcript of this episode (srt file)
Full transcript of this episode (.txt file)
Transcripts are also available through your podcast app.