AI is being used more and more all the time. But there are dangers as well as possibilities.
Some months ago SIL created a set of rules for how they will use AI technology responsibly. They recognize that AI can be a powerful tool for helping people who speak minority or lesser-known languages, but they also know it can cause harm if used carelessly. Their rules are built around three big ideas:
- * AI should only be used when it clearly helps people — not just because it's possible
- *people's private information must be protected and only used with their full understanding and permission
- *someone must always be in charge of and responsible for any AI system being used.
A second important part of their statement is that the communities SIL serves should be in control of how AI is used for them. In other words, SIL does not want to simply bring in outside technology and tell communities to use it. Instead, they want local communities to help decide what tools are built and whether those tools are actually used. They also commit to never using AI to create harmful content — such as hateful, violent, or deceptive material — and to always being honest about what AI can and cannot do.
The overall message is simple: AI should serve people, not the other way around.
The full statement: https://global.sil.org/ai-ethics-statement/