Spillover Effect Details
- Policy
-
EU AI Act
- Alternative
-
AI Ethics and Impact Assessment Framework for SMEs
- Dimension
- Environment
- Criteria
-
- Reduction of CO2 emissions
- Time Frame
- 15
- Score
-
- PositiveImpact
- This policy could foster innovation in sustainable AI applications specifically geared towards reducing CO2 emissions. By implementing ethical guidelines from the outset, it may lead small and medium enterprises to develop AI solutions that can optimize energy use, predict environmental impacts, and reduce waste, ultimately contributing to a greener economy. This proactive approach can set a precedent for responsible AI use and promote sustainability across industries, creating a healthier planet for future generations.
- NegativeImpact
- If the framework is poorly designed or inadequately implemented, it could lead to compliance burdens for SMEs that stifle innovation rather than promote it. Additionally, if not all SMEs can access resources for these assessments, a divide may grow between larger firms and smaller enterprises, exacerbating inequality in AI accessibility and ethical standards. This could hinder some companies from contributing to CO2 reduction efforts, ultimately reinforcing existing environmental challenges.
- Description
- The proposed alternative of developing a comprehensive framework for SMEs presents some significant flaws, particularly the risk of failure to effectively guide SMEs in a competitive and technologically evolving marketplace. Additionally, if ethical considerations do not translate effectively into actionable guidelines, there's a possibility of stagnation rather than improvement in AI's environmental contributions. The score of 'bad' reflects the potential for negative spillover effects if the framework fails to empower SMEs in meaningful ways. While the alternative aims to improve the ethical landscape of AI use, its indirect impact on directly reducing CO2 emissions remains unclear, especially when contrasted with alternatives focused explicitly on environmental education or accountability training programs that assure broad compliance with the EU AI Act.