The importance of AI as a source of innovation has been increasing. Hitachi has formulated its own principles for the ethical use of AI to reduce the risks posed by AI and to utilize it while maintaining safety and security. This special issue of Hitachi Review introduces Hitachi's initiatives on the ethical use and governance of AI in its Social Innovation Business.
How will our world change as AI rapidly becomes widespread? What are the essential ethics, and approaches based on them, required to utilize AI safely and securely? Kay Firth-Butterfield from the World Economic Forum, and Norihiro Suzuki, General Manager of Hitachi's R&D Group talk about how to strengthen governance in introducing new technologies.
Japan's METI published a set of AI Governance Guidelines to support the practical implementation of AI principles. Hitachi has formulated its own principles, so two key staff are joined by METI's Takuya Izumi, one of the leaders involved in preparing the guidelines, to share their views on coordinating their efforts to put AI ethics into practice.
The problem of AI ethics has global recognition. Hitachi published its own “Principles guiding the ethical use of AI in Social Innovation Business” in February 2021 as a basis for the practical implementation of initiatives to establish governance.
Innovations brought about by AI and digitalization are significantly transforming the concepts of trust and governance. Hitachi has worked on developing the Trust Governance Framework and is also moving ahead with work on AI governance.
While AI is a powerful tool for Hitachi’s Social Innovation Business, it also by its very nature demands careful consideration of safety, fairness, transparency, and ethics. Hitachi leads the transition to Society 5.0 taking account of these factors in the practical application of AI.
