Spillover Effect Details
- Policy
-
EU AI Act
- Alternative
-
AI Ethics and Impact Assessment Framework for SMEs
- Dimension
- Education
- Criteria
-
- Time Frame
- 30
- Score
-
- PositiveImpact
- Enhanced ethical AI understanding among SMEs could lead to the creation of inclusive and fair AI technologies. This empowerment helps balance the AI landscape, providing educational resources that span beyond compliance, encouraging future generations to innovate responsibly and sustainably in their use of technology. Moreover, a well-educated populace on ethical considerations in AI can improve civic engagement and promote societal well-being.
- NegativeImpact
- The proposed framework could inadvertently deepen the digital divide, whereby larger SMEs with more resources successfully implement these guidelines, while smaller firms fail to comply due to inadequate support. Additionally, the focus on SMEs may distract from developing robust, universal standards that cater to diverse company sizes, leading to regulatory loopholes that could harm individuals’ rights in the long term.
- Description
- While the intention behind developing a tailored framework for SMEs is noble, the potential failures of this alternative undermine its effectiveness. The framework may not receive sufficient buy-in from smaller enterprises, leading to inconsistent application of ethical principles across the board. Moreover, if the SMEs lack resources or expertise, compliance pitfalls could follow, exacerbating inequality in AI development. In comparison to alternatives focused directly on education and accountability, this policy approach appears narrower and potentially harmful by creating gaps in understanding and practice that could persist into the future.