Ethics of Applied AI

in Data-Driven Science

Denis S. Willett

North Carolina Institute for Climate Studies

How to Accompany


Context

Earth Systems Data Science in the Cloud

Context

Earth Systems Data Science in the Cloud

Session Overview

  • Why Ethics?
  • What Ethics?
  • Case Studies
  • Impact

Why Ethics?

  • Principles that govern and determine our behavior
  • Principles that dictate how we interact with other people

What type of world do we want to live in?

Shaping a better future…

What Ethics?

Not:

  • Scientific Work
  • Plagiarism
  • Ethical conduct in Academia

Also Not:

  • Bias and Discrimination
  • Privacy and Surveillance
  • Transparency and Explainability
  • Job Loss and Economic Impact
  • Safety and Security

What Ethics?

You, personally.

Your work:

  • How does and can your work impact people?
  • Broaden your thinking.
  • Make this an explicit consideration.
  • What do you do in ethically tough situations?

Case Studies

(Turn off Recording)

Mollie Orshansky

Remember Mollie Orshansky

  • A Data Scientist Ahead of Her Time
  • Developed Poverty Thresholds in 1950s
  • Her thresholds were adopted by the Federal Government in the 1960s

Impact: What is Next?

  • How does the work we do impact other people?
  • How can our work adversely impact other people?