Your chatbot isn’t dangerous, but it’s not harmless either
- Simone Schouten
- 23. Sept.
- 2 Min. Lesezeit
Generative AI and chatbots are rapidly appearing everywhere. And they are full of potential but also need careful handling. With the EU AI Act now in play, it's crucial to understand that even Limited Risk AI systems come with inherent responsibilities and potential pitfalls. Ignoring these risks isn't an option; proactively managing them is key to successful and ethical product development.
The EU AI Act categorizes AI systems based on their potential to cause harm. While ‘High Risk’ AI demands stringent oversight, many of the chatbots and generative AI tools we use daily for customer support, content creation, or internal knowledge bases, are categorized as ‘Limited Risk’. The Act requires these systems to inform users they are interacting with an AI system, or that content was generated using AI. Sounds straightforward, right? Yet, some research implies it is not that simple*. On top of that, being responsible for these limited risk systems implies other subtle but significant risks that must actively be addressed.
Biased Content
One of the most prevalent risks is biased content. AI models learn from the data they're trained on. If this data reflects existing societal biases, the AI will perpetuate them. Imagine a chatbot designed to assist with recruitment queries, inadvertently using language that favors certain demographics, or a generative AI tool creating marketing copy that reinforces stereotypes (here is an example where Stable Diffusion v2.1 was prompted to show engineers in 9 images, and all were white and male). Such biases, even if unintentional, can lead to unfair outcomes and damage reputation. It is important to cultivate a diverse data landscape.
Misleading Content
Another critical concern is harmful or misleading content. Generative AI can, at times, hallucinate. And not just dry factual slip-ups, but wild, unpredictable, and at times offensive content. A famous example is Bing Chat shortly after its release, leading to some highly entertaining but slightly worrisome chat interactions. The responsibility for all who carry the responsibility of an AI product is clear: build a safety net of moderation tools, clear output guidelines, and human oversight.
The Limited Risk classification shouldn't lead to limited vigilance. It's an invitation to embed ethical considerations and risk mitigation strategies into the very fabric of your AI-powered products. By prioritizing diverse data, implementing robust content quality checks, fostering human oversight, and ensuring clear user communication, you can build a lighthouse of trust in an uncertain technological sea.
