Imperial gives evidence to Lords' AI committee

Maja Pantic, Professor of Affective and Behavioural Computing, also made a submission to the committee.

Imperial has responded to the call for evidence from the House of Lords' Select Committee on Artificial Intelligence.

After consulting with colleagues across the College, the response highlights the “AI spring” currently taking place - driven by recent successes in machine learning, caused by the unprecedented availability of data and more powerful machines.

The submission emphasises the need for better communication by academia and industry on the likely impact of the rise of AI, in order to raise awareness of the potential for AI to augment rather than replace jobs in the labour market – especially where roles require human thought and relationship-building.

It stresses the importance of ensuring that every student leaves education data-literate, arguing that “to understand bias in sample data will soon become an essential output of education, much as literacy and numeracy have been for decades.” It also calls for schools and universities to rebalance technological education towards programming and controlling machines, rather than simply learning to use them.  

Ethical implications

The College’s response also suggests that further exploration of the ethical questions raised by the use of increasingly autonomous artificial intelligence systems in job applications, vehicle control and weaponry is needed.

Maja Pantic, Professor of Affective and Behavioural Computing, also made a submission to the committee. Her response covers a variety of topics ranging from the pace of technological change and its impact on society, to public perception of artificial intelligence and the ethical implications of the technology.

The House of Lords Select Committee on Artificial Intelligence was appointed in June 2017 to consider the economic, ethical and social implications of advances in artificial intelligence, and to make recommendations. It will report by the end of March 2018.

• Read the College’s response to the House of Lords’ Artificial Intelligence Committee.

• Read Professor Pantic’s response to the committee.

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