One of the main talking points of 2023 has, of course, been the new generation of artificial intelligence (AI). A significant portion of media coverage during the first half of the year proposed a fantastical leap between generative AI and tyrannical, self-aware machines akin to something out of Black Mirror, The Matrix or any one of thousands of science fiction stories.
It made for good content, but common sense eventually set in and the conversation moved on to the here and now.
Since then, there has been a far more level-headed discussion about the capabilities of AI. The merriment above notwithstanding, the technology does have the capability to cause significant harm in the wrong hands, including unscrupulous businesses. After all, in 2021, 28% of large businesses already employed AI technology, but 89% of businesses expect that AI will be used to optimise their operations in the future.
That is why the EU has been racing to draw up an act that regulates the use of AI in all contexts––a tall order, given that it’s still not fully known just how far it will go, or how fast.
The Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act is a comprehensive document that addresses these challenges, while also acknowledging the transient nature of the technology.
It notes how the technology “can bring a wide array of economic and societal benefits across the entire spectrum of industries and social activities”, adding that it can also provide a key competitive advantage to the EU and its member nations. The same elements that power these benefits, however, can also bring about new risks for individuals or societies.
In the most recent vote, on 14 June, lawmakers agreed to include in the Act a ban on AI technology in biometric surveillance, and for generative AI systems like ChatGPT to disclose AI-generated content. Experts say that the challenge is to define AI and its capabilities in such a way as to offer protections against a wide range of harms, while also not stifling innovation.
Recruitment risks
So how does all this apply to your job? According to legal experts, the use of AI in recruitment and performance evaluation would in fact be deemed “high risk”, due to potential clashes with GDPR regulations.
In some cases, the use of analytics tools that have been commonplace for years could be curbed due to the enhanced abilities that generative AI provides.
For example, without the protection of the AI Act, workplace performance reviews could be carried out entirely using AI algorithms, thus affecting an individual’s livelihood and career prospects without any human interaction.
Similarly, the use of algorithms in the recruitment process could easily fall foul of bias and discrimination; the Act would enforce regulations against automated filtering of candidates. Way back in 2018, Amazon was forced to scrap an AI-led recruitment project due to machine learning protocols unfairly favouring male candidates in all cases.
Another area where the Act will protect workers and prospective employees is a ban on the use of “emotion recognition” in the workplace; a system like this could be used to hold an individual to an unfair standard.
Overall, the text of the Act states that it aims to ensure European citizens can benefit from this new technology, while also ensuring it functions according to Union values, fundamental rights and principles. There is a long road ahead, but workers can breathe a sigh of relief that unfair expectations and practices will not feature in our AI-driven future.
While these protections and more aim to protect individuals and societies from improper use of AI, it’s still clear that the technology is set to transform how we work and communicate, so here are some enticing roles from the Silicon Canals Job Board if you’re seeking a change…
Multinational insurance giant Aviva is seeking a Software Developer to join its team in Dublin, Ireland. In this role, you will be tasked with developing new IT solutions for the company’s ever-growing product suite, while also supporting maintenance of its existing insurance codebase. In this role, you would collaborate with business and IT stakeholders to champion process improvement and promote internal and external growth.
In Berlin, a unique and enticing opportunity can be found at music streaming platform Soundcloud. The service is seeking a Backend Senior Software Engineer with a focus on music discovery. In this role, you will be involved in helping users to find what they’re looking for while enabling them to explore and discover new music. As a Senior Engineer, you will be responsible for the software engineering and machine learning infrastructure necessary for this objective, leveraging data and other resources in order to build and deliver recommendation mechanisms.
Also in Germany, renowned technology conglomerate Siemens is building on its operation in Baden-Württemberg, and seeking to fill the role of Associate Frontend Developer. In this agile role, you will support the company’s overall ethos of “making the future possible” by implementing new, innovative solutions in the cloud environment across a range of industries and disciplines.
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