The Road to Accountable AI Kevin Werbach

In this episode, Professor Kevin Werbach and Dr. Richard Benjamins, former Chief Responsible AI Officer at Telefónica, discuss Telefónica's journey towards responsible AI, corporate strategies to address these challenges, and Benjamins' views on generative AI and the European AI Act. They explore the role of the Responsible AI Champion in embedding ethical practices across business functions and discuss the dynamics of AI ethics committees, which vary from permission-based to problem-based frameworks. Their conversation highlights the scarcity of AI ethics expertise and the diverse requirements for ethical oversight depending on a company's AI integration level. Benjamins' insights significantly enhance understanding of the global AI regulatory landscape and its future implications.
Dr. Richard Benjamins is a leading expert in responsible AI, previously serving as Chief Responsible AI Officer and Chief AI and Data Strategist at Telefónica. Recognized among the top 100 influential figures in data-driven business, he co-founded OdiseIA, an observatory focused on the ethical and social impacts of AI. His career highlights include being the Group Chief Data Officer at AXA and holding key roles at Telefónica, contributing extensively to Big Data and Analytics. Dr. Benjamins founded Telefónica's Big Data for Social Good department, showcasing his commitment to leveraging data for societal benefits. With an academic background in Cognitive Science and Artificial Intelligence, he has also been involved in academia and research across the globe. His advisory role at BigML underscores his dedication to making machine learning more accessible. His projects have ranged from environmental efforts like air quality measurement in Madrid to healthcare advancements during the pandemic, embodying his advocacy for responsible use of AI to address both current and future challenges in the field.
The AI Way in Telefónica
UNESCO Ethics of Artificial Intelligence
Telefónica’s Approach to the Use of Responsible AI 
From AI Principles to Responsible AI: Challenges
EU AI Act
 

Join Professor Kevin Werbach and Elham Tabassi, Associate Director for Emerging Technologies at NIST, as they explore the nuances of the NIST AI Risk Management Framework (RMF). Their discussion illuminates the science of measurement, the challenges of operationalizing legal and governance requirements for AI, and the pursuit of standards for trustworthy AI. During the conversation, they delve into the diverse challenges businesses face when adopting the AI RMF and how the Trustworthy AI Resource Center serves as a critical tool to keeping entities at the forefront of technology. They examine the intricate task of measuring AI systems, tackling biases of all kinds, and overcoming the socio-technical barriers that influence the development of standards. With NIST’s non-regulatory role fostering transformative policies, the discussion offers insights into the responsible growth of AI technologies, setting the stage for a future where AI safety and trustworthiness are tangible realities.
Elham Tabassi is Associate Director of Emerging Technologies at NIST, the National Institute of Standards and Technology in the US Commerce Department, and Chief Technologist of the US government’s new AI Safety Institute. She was named by Time Magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in AI, because of her role in the NIST AI Risk Management Framework, or RMF.
Elham Tabassi: Time 100 Most Influential People in AI
NIST AI Risk Management Framework v. 1.0
Road Map for the AI Risk Management Framework
Fact Sheet: Executive Order on the Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence
 

Join Professor Werbach and Reid Blackman, the founder of Virtue and author of ‘Ethical Machines,’ to unravel the fabric of ethical responsibilities in AI development. They navigate the transition from 'AI ethics' to 'responsible AI,' debunking the myth that ethics is just a matter of opinion and showcasing how it can be both objective and actionable. The conversation addresses the ethical pitfalls of AI, such as biases and privacy concerns, emphasizing that these issues often arise from the technology itself. They explore strategies for promoting ethical AI within organizations, including the implementation of robust policies and risk committees. Highlighting the tension between ethics and profitability, the episode also celebrates AI's potential to improve efficiency. The pivotal role of expert guidance in leading companies toward responsible AI use is underscored, painting a future where technology enhances human capabilities ethically.
Reid Blackman, Ph.D. and founder of Virtue Consultants, leverages his philosophy background to infuse AI development and deployment with ethical considerations, aiming to mitigate risks such as bias, privacy violations, and the opacity of AI systems. Through Virtue, he operationalizes ethics in technology by embedding cross-functional teams into companies' product development and corporate culture, addressing both theoretical and practical challenges. His work spans advising prominent organizations like AWS, the FBI, NASA, and the World Economic Forum, showcasing his extensive influence in promoting responsible AI practices across various sectors.
Reid's book Ethical Machines
The EU's AI Act and How Companies Can Achieve Compliance 
How to Avoid the Ethical Nightmares of Emerging Technology
Reid's podcast

Professor Werbach is joined by Azeem Azhar, a leading expert in exponential technologies, for a riveting conversation on the trajectory of AI, regulation, and the larger challenges of concentration in the tech sector. They traverse Azeem’s professional journey, highlighting the pivotal moments in AI development, such as the rise of deep learning, and discuss the implications for business leaders now at the helm of these potent tools. Drawing parallels with historical tech calamities, they examine the safety challenges inherent in large language models and how companies like Google and OpenAI juggle the race for innovation with the necessity for thorough testing. The conversation then delves into the murky waters of regulation and the tug-of-war between progress and control, with a spotlight on the EU's Digital Markets Act and its impact on global tech firms. 
Azeem Azhar is the author of the bestseller "Exponential: How Accelerating Technology is Leaving Us Behind and What to Do About It", which quickly became an Amazon bestseller in Geopolitics upon its release. As the founder of the data analytics firm PeerIndex, later acquired by Brandwatch, Azeem has a proven track record as an angel investor, with investments in over 30 startups, including early-stage companies in AI, renewable energy, and female healthtech. Some of his most notable interviews include discussions with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, co-founder and CEO of Anthropic Dario Amodei, and legendary Silicon Valley investor Vinod Khosla. These conversations cover a wide range of topics, including the implications of AI on ownership of thoughts, the potential impact of AI on global inequality, and the need to change assumptions about conflict to avoid a second Cold War. His ability to break down complex technological concepts and their societal implications has earned him recognition as a global futurist and exponential thinker, making his contributions invaluable for understanding the rapidly evolving technological landscape. 
Exponential View, Azeem’s Substack and community
Azeem’s book The Exponential Age
Azeem and Sam Altman's Discussion
EU AI Act

Welcome to the Road to Accountable AI. Explore the crucial intersection of technology, law, and business ethics with Wharton professor Kevin Werbach, as he and his guests examine efforts to implement responsible, safe and trustworthy artificial intelligence.
In this initial episode, Professor Werbach describes the concept he calls Accountable AI. He talks about his background in emerging technology over the past three decades, starting with his experience leading internet policy at the U.S. Federal Communications Commission during the early years of the commercial internet. He explains why AI has such revolutionary potential today, while at the same time raising serious legal, ethical, and public policy concerns. He provides five reasons why why companies should take Accountable AI seriously, 
Look for upcoming episodes featuring top AI experts such as Azeem Azhar (Exponential View), Reid Blackman (Author of Ethical Machines), Elham Tabassi (NIST), Dragos Tudorache (European Parliament), Dominique Shelton Leipzig (Mayer Brown), Scott Zoldi (FICO), Navrina Singh (Credo AI), and Paula Goldman (Salesforce).
Accountable AI Website
Professor Werbach’s Substack
Professor Werbach’s personal page
Pew Research Center Survey on Americans’ Views of AI
DataRobot State of AI Bias Report
KPMG US AI Risk Survey Report
The Blockchain and the New Architecture of Trust