AI and product ethics: London highlights

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its influence on product management have gained significant prominence recently, particularly with the emergence of language learning-based tools like ChatGPT. With just 11 days until #mtpcon London, let’s delve into the valuable insights shared by some of the keynote speakers.

Can AI Create a Fairer World? By Kriti Sharma

At #mtpcon London in 2019, Kriti Sharma delivered an enlightening keynote discussing the profound effects of AI on decision-making.

Key takeaway: We have an obsession with giving AI systems a personality. Alexa, Siri and Cortana, for example, are mostly female and help with tasks such as ordering shopping. Male examples like IBM Watson and Salesforce Einstein make important business decisions for us. There is much gender inequality in how we design AI and machine learning personas. Kriti believes that we should do better.

She emphasized the ethical responsibility of product managers and developers in ensuring that AI technologies are developed and utilized with a strong commitment to fairness, diversity, accountability, and transparency. The goal is to forge a more just and equitable world.

Watch Kriti Sharma’s full talk here

A gentle introduction to AI in product by Rand Hindi

In the concluding keynote session of #mtpcon London 2022, Rand Hindi, CEO at Zama, embarked on a journey through the history of AI. He explored its present contributions to society and raised crucial questions about preventing its misuse.

Key takeaway: Rand stressed the imperative need for countermeasures to thwart AI misuse, advocating for the integration of safeguards into AI systems to ensure responsible behavior. He also underscored the significance of addressing biases in AI data to avoid perpetuating unfair or discriminatory outcomes. Rand presented two possible future directions for AI: one where technology overwhelms individuals and erodes privacy, and another where it enhances creativity and productivity, aiding in tasks people prefer not to do themselves.

Watch Rand Hindi’s full talk here

Building Products AI-First by Aparna Chennapragada

In a comprehensive talk from Mind the Product San Francisco 2017, Aparna Chennapragada, Product Director and Technical Assistant to the CEO at Google, unpacked four compelling ideas about how AI is reshaping our perceptions of products and experiences.

Key Takeaway: Machine learning and AI are revolutionizing human-computer interactions, enabling more intuitive engagements through voice and gestures. Product managers are encouraged to consider how AI can empower users, recognize the importance of training AI alongside product development, and explore novel product concepts rooted in AI capabilities such as data classification, comprehension, prediction, and data generation. Embracing AI-first products is essential to meet evolving customer expectations.

Watch Aparna Chennapragada’s full talk here

In the evolving landscape of product management, AI is a transformative force that necessitates ethical considerations and proactive measures to ensure a brighter, more equitable future. These insights from #mtpcon London’s keynote speakers shed light on the path forward.