The advantages that artificial intelligence brings to society and all its aspects are indisputable, but this area brings with it certain risks and challenges in terms of ethics and security that all countries face.
For that reason, UNESCO has defined the first global universal standard for the ethics of artificial intelligence, in the development of which Serbia participated with its experts. This ethical framework, which contains numerous recommendations for the “healthy” development and use of artificial intelligence, was adopted by 193 UNESCO member states in November 2021.
ETHICAL AND SAFE APPLICATION OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
The use of artificial intelligence opens up a number of ethical and security challenges that need to be addressed and prevented. For that reason, the ethical and safe use of artificial intelligence is one of the five goals of the Strategy for the Development of Artificial Intelligence in the Republic of Serbia for the period 2020-2025 which emphasizes the exceptional importance of this aspect of the development of AI. Achieving this goal implies the introduction of preventive mechanisms that will enable the responsible development of artificial intelligence and ways of verifying that systems based on machine learning are in accordance with the highest ethical and safety standards. This important aspect permeates other parts of the Strategy, which ensures that all activities are implemented in accordance with this goal.
Application of AI Ethics in Education
When it comes to primary and secondary education, the goal is for future generations, who will deal with this area, to understand ethics in the domain of artificial intelligence and to be aware of its importance. In order to ensure that, in the seventh grade, within Engineering and Technology subject, as part of Technical and Digital Literacy, students are introduced to the concept, meaning and application as well as the directions of artificial intelligence. The interdisciplinary correlation with informatics is very important because of the knowledge that students have acquired about programming in that subject, and which is supplemented with knowledge about robotics acquired within Engineering and Technology subject. In addition to adopting the basic concepts of artificial intelligence and where it is applied, the plan is to introduce students to the basics of its ethical aspect. This aspect is also included in the Modern Technologies subject.
The medium-term plan is to introduce the content of artificial intelligence in secondary schools through subjects such as Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, and at the general level within the Computer Science and Informatics subjects, which would include all secondary school students.
Regarding university education, ethics is also included in the study programs of master studies in the field of artificial intelligence, which are implemented by the Faculty of Technical Sciences and the Faculty of Natural Sciences in Novi Sad, University of Kragujevac and the Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics in Niš.
In order to acquaint and raise the awareness of the general public about the importance of this topic, through the programs of the Center for the Promotion of Science, artificial intelligence and its ethical application was further promoted.
Application in Science
In order to ensure that the work on the development of artificial intelligence in scientific research takes into account this important issue, all projects of the Science Fund must comply with the AI ethical standards, which were defined in cooperation with the World Bank.
Also, one of the areas that will be covered by the Research and Development Institute for Artificial Intelligence of Serbia is ethics. Its importance has been emphasized since the very beginning of this Institute, in the Study on its establishment.
Application in Business Sector
Within the trainings organized for artificial intelligence consultants, one of the indispensable topics is the ethics of AI application. Also, it is planned to further develop this part of the training for employees in the business sector.
Application in Public Administration
In accordance with the Action Plan for the Development of Artificial Intelligence, the idea is to adopt the principles and guidelines for ethical and safe use of AI in Serbia by the end of 2022. These principles will be based on the recommendations of the Council of Europe and UNESCO.