Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the financial sector, making banking more efficient and effective than ever before. However, the rapid advancement of AI has also raised concerns about how it is being developed and used. Banks must take responsibility for their role in the development of responsible AI and ensure they remain transparent in how they apply it. A new report by Evident, a London-based non-profit organization focused on ethics and emerging technologies, highlights the lack of transparency among some of the largest banks regarding responsible AI development.
Overview of Evident’s AI Index Findings
The report shows that eight of the 23 largest banks in the US, Canada, and Europe are failing to provide any public responsible AI principles. Evident’s AI Index found that these banks are failing to disclose their approaches to responsible AI development, raising concerns about their transparency and trustworthiness.
Alexandra Mousavizadeh, the Director of Research at Evident, commented, “Our research found a worrying lack of transparency around how AI is already used—and how it may be used in the future—which could damage stakeholder trust and stifle progress.”
Banks are taking proactive steps
While the findings in the report are concerning, the report also notes that many financial institutions are taking proactive steps to address AI concerns and are developing internal programs for responsible AI. As an industry that is highly regulated, banks have a responsibility to ensure that they remain transparent in their approach to AI development. Many institutions are already doing this and are working with organizations and universities to develop ethical AI policies.
Transparency Among Banks
The Evident Index reveals that Canadian banks are the most transparent regarding AI reporting, while European banks are the least transparent. North American banks are more likely to hire specific responsible AI roles, while European banks tend to lead responsible AI within their data ethics teams.
JPMorgan Chase & Co, Royal Bank of Canada, and Toronto-Dominion Bank
The report highlights three banks that are leading the way in transparency regarding responsible AI development: JPMorgan Chase & Co, Royal Bank of Canada, and Toronto-Dominion Bank. These banks have a demonstrable strategic focus on transparency around responsible AI, as evidenced by their efforts to create specific responsible AI leadership roles and publishing ethical principles and reports on AI. Additionally, they have partnered with relevant universities and organizations to develop responsible AI policies.
Difference between North American and European Banks
There are some differences in how North American and European banks approach responsible AI. As previously mentioned, North American banks are more likely to hire specific responsible AI roles, while European banks tend to lead responsible AI within their data ethics teams. European banks may be viewing responsible AI through a lens of data ethics, potentially missing out on the benefits of creating AI-specific roles.
Links between responsible AI and data ethics
The report shows that banks are trying to work out the links between responsible AI and data ethics. It is important to take a holistic approach to the development of responsible AI, which includes ethical considerations such as fairness, accountability, and transparency. Banks are beginning to recognize the importance of ethical AI and are taking steps to ensure that their AI applications are responsible and transparent.
The report by Evident highlights the need for banks to improve their transparency around responsible AI development. While many banks are taking proactive steps to address AI concerns, there is still much work to be done to ensure that banks are responsible and transparent in how they develop and use AI. The links between responsible AI and data ethics must be taken into consideration by banks as they develop AI applications to ensure transparency and accountability in the use of this powerful technology.