PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

AI ethics are ignoring children, say Oxford researchers

2024-03-20
(Press-News.org) Researchers from the Oxford Martin Programme on Ethical Web and Data Architectures (EWADA), University of Oxford, have called for a more considered approach when embedding ethical principles in the development and governance of AI for children.

In a perspective paper published today in Nature Machine Intelligence, the authors highlight that although there is a growing consensus around what high-level AI ethical principles should look like, too little is known about how to effectively apply them in principle for children. The study mapped the global landscape of existing ethics guidelines for AI and identified four main challenges in adapting such principles for children’s benefit:

A lack of consideration for the developmental side of childhood, especially the complex and individual needs of children, age ranges, development stages, backgrounds, and characters. Minimal consideration for the role of guardians (e.g. parents) in childhood. For example, parents are often portrayed as having superior experience to children, when the digital world may need to reflect on this traditional role of parents. Too few child-centred evaluations that consider children’s best interests and rights. Quantitative assessments are the norm when assessing issues like safety and safeguarding in AI systems, but these tend to fall short when considering factors like the developmental needs and long-term wellbeing of children. Absence of a coordinated, cross-sectoral, and cross-disciplinary approach to formulating ethical AI principles for children that are necessary to effect impactful practice changes. The researchers also drew on real-life examples and experiences when identifying these challenges. They found that although AI is being used to keep children safe, typically by identifying inappropriate content online, there has been a lack of initiative to incorporate safeguarding principles into AI innovations including those supported by Large Language Models (LLMs). Such integration is crucial to prevent children from being exposed to biased content based on factors such as ethnicity, or to harmful content, especially for vulnerable groups, and the evaluation of such methods should go beyond mere quantitative metrics such as accuracy or precision. Through their partnership with the University of Bristol, the researchers are also designing tools to help children with ADHD, carefully considering their needs and designing interfaces to support their sharing of data with AI-related algorithms, in ways that are aligned with their daily routes, digital literacy skills, and need for simple yet effective interfaces.

In response to these challenges, the researchers recommended:

increasing the involvement of key stakeholders, including parents and guardians, AI developers, and children themselves; providing more direct support for industry designers and developers of AI systems, especially by involving them more in the implementation of ethical AI principles; establishing legal and professional accountability mechanisms that are child-centred; and increasing multidisciplinary collaboration around a child-centred approach involving stakeholders in areas such as human-computer interaction, design, algorithms, policy guidance, data protection law, and education. Dr Jun Zhao, Oxford Martin Fellow, Senior Researcher at the University’s Department of Computer Science, and lead author of the paper, said:

‘The incorporation of AI in children’s lives and our society is inevitable. While there are increased debates about who should ensure technologies are responsible and ethical, a substantial proportion of such burdens falls on parents and children to navigate this complex landscape.’

‘This perspective article examined existing global AI ethics principles and identified crucial gaps and future development directions. These insights are critical for guiding our industries and policymakers. We hope this research will serve as a significant starting point for cross-sectoral collaborations in creating ethical AI technologies for children and global policy development in this space.’

The authors outlined several ethical AI principles that would especially need to be considered for children. They include ensuring fair, equal, and inclusive digital access, delivering transparency and accountability when developing AI systems, safeguarding privacy and preventing manipulation and exploitation, guaranteeing the safety of children, and creating age-appropriate systems while actively involving children in their development.

Professor Sir Nigel Shadbolt, co-author, Director of the EWADA Programme, Principal of Jesus College Oxford and a Professor of Computing Science at the Department of Computer Science, said:

‘In an era of AI powered algorithms children deserve systems that meet their social, emotional, and cognitive needs. Our AI systems must be ethical and respectful at all stages of development, but this is especially critical during childhood.’

Read the study ‘Challenges and opportunities in translating ethical AI principles into practice for children here’ in Nature Machine Intelligence (only after embargo lifts) – https://www.nature.com/articles/s42256-024-00805-x

-ENDS- 

Notes to Editors

For an interview with the researchers or further information, including to see a copy of the paper under embargo, please contact Amjad Parkar on amjad.parkar@oxfordmartin.ox.ac.uk

DOI - 10.1038/s42256-024-00805-x

About the University of Oxford

Oxford University has been placed number 1 in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings for the eighth year running, and ​number 3 in the QS World Rankings 2024. At the heart of this success are the twin-pillars of our ground-breaking research and innovation and our distinctive educational offer.

Oxford is world-famous for research and teaching excellence and home to some of the most talented people from across the globe. Our work helps the lives of millions, solving real-world problems through a huge network of partnerships and collaborations. The breadth and interdisciplinary nature of our research alongside our personalised approach to teaching sparks imaginative and inventive insights and solutions.

Through its research commercialisation arm, Oxford University Innovation, Oxford is the highest university patent filer in the UK and is ranked first in the UK for university spinouts, having created more than 300 new companies since 1988. Over a third of these companies have been created in the past five years. The university is a catalyst for prosperity in Oxfordshire and the United Kingdom, contributing £15.7 billion to the UK economy in 2018/19, and supports more than 28,000 full time jobs.

About the Oxford Martin Programme on Ethical Web and Data Architectures

The World Wide Web has radically diverged from the values upon which it was founded, and it is now dominated by a few platform companies, whose business models and services generate huge profits.

The Oxford Martin Programme on Ethical Web and Data Architectures, led by Sir Tim Berners-Lee and Principal of Jesus College Nigel Shadbolt, aims to identify digital infrastructures that promote and support individual autonomy and self-determination in our emerging digital societies. To do this, researchers aim to redesign the fundamental information architectures which underpin the web, and deploy new legal and regulatory infrastructures.

About the Oxford Martin School   

The Oxford Martin School is a world-leading research department of the University of Oxford. Its 200 academics work across more than 30 pioneering research programmes to find solutions to the world's most urgent challenges. It supports novel and high-risk projects that often do not fit within conventional funding channels, with the belief that breaking boundaries and fostering innovative collaborations can dramatically improve the wellbeing of this and future generations. Underpinning all our research is the need to translate academic excellence into impact – from innovations in science, medicine, and technology, through to providing expert advice and policy recommendations.   

About the Department of Computer Science

The Department of Computer Science, University of Oxford, is consistently recognised as the internationally leading centre of research and teaching across a broad spectrum of computer science, ranging from foundational discoveries to interdisciplinary work with significant real-world impact. The department is proud of its history as one of the longest-established computer science departments in the country, as it continues to provide first-rate undergraduate and postgraduate teaching to some of the world's brightest minds. It enjoys close links with other University departments and Oxford research groups and institutes.

For more information visit our website: https://www.cs.ox.ac.uk/

END



ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Cleaning up environmental contaminants with quantum dot technology

Cleaning up environmental contaminants with quantum dot technology
2024-03-20
NEW ORLEANS, March 20, 2024 — The 2023 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was focused on quantum dots — objects so tiny, they’re controlled by the strange and complex rules of quantum physics. Many quantum dots used in electronics are made from toxic substances, but their nontoxic counterparts are now being developed and explored for uses in medicine and in the environment. One team of researchers is focusing on carbon- and sulfur-based quantum dots, using them to create safer invisible inks and to help decontaminate water supplies. The researchers will present their results today at the spring meeting of the ...

New model clarifies why water freezes at a range of temperatures

New model clarifies why water freezes at a range of temperatures
2024-03-20
NEW ORLEANS, March 20, 2024 — From abstract-looking cloud formations to roars of snow machines on ski slopes, the transformation of liquid water into solid ice touches many facets of life. Water’s freezing point is generally accepted to be 32 degrees Fahrenheit. But that is due to ice nucleation — impurities in everyday water raise its freezing point to this temperature. Now, researchers unveil a theoretical model that shows how specific structural details on surfaces can influence water’s freezing point. The researchers will present their results at the spring meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS). ACS Spring 2024 is a hybrid meeting being held virtually ...

Hitting this stretchy, electronic material makes it tougher

Hitting this stretchy, electronic material makes it tougher
2024-03-20
NEW ORLEANS, March 20, 2024 — Accidents happen every day, and if you drop your smartwatch, or it gets hit really hard, the device probably won’t work anymore. But now, researchers report on a soft, flexible material with “adaptive durability,” meaning it gets stronger when hit or stretched. The material also conducts electricity, making it ideal for the next generation of wearables or personalized medical sensors. The researchers will present their results today at the spring meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS). ACS Spring ...

Severe lung infection during COVID-19 can cause damage to the heart

2024-03-20
SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, can damage the heart even without directly infecting the heart tissue, a National Institutes of Health-supported study has found. The research, published in the journal Circulation, specifically looked at damage to the hearts of people with SARS-CoV2-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), a serious lung condition that can be fatal. But researchers said the findings could have relevance to organs beyond the heart and also to viruses other than SARS-CoV-2.   Scientists have long known that COVID-19 increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, and Long COVID, ...

Are there racial and ethnic differences in Medicare costs for older adults with dementia?

2024-03-20
In an analysis of information on Medicare beneficiaries with dementia, Medicare expenditures were higher for Black and Hispanic individuals compared with whites. The Journal of the American Geriatrics Society analysis also found that expenditures were highest for Black beneficiaries in every phase of care. The average total Medicare expenditures after being diagnosed with dementia were $165,730 for Black beneficiaries, $160,442 for Hispanic beneficiaries, and $136,326 for white beneficiaries. In the year preceding and immediately following ...

Does sedentary leisure time affect men’s risk of erectile dysfunction?

2024-03-20
Previous research has identified genetic variants linked to sedentary leisure behavior, which includes activities such as watching television, using a computer, and operating a vehicle. In a new analysis published in Andrology, a higher genetic susceptibility to leisure computer usage was associated with a greater risk of erectile dysfunction in men. In the analysis of data on more than 200,000 men, each 1.2 hour increase in leisure computer usage predicted 3.57-fold greater odds of erectile dysfunction. There was no evidence to suggest ...

Can taking antibiotics combat the gut bacteria that contribute to the pathogenesis of COVID-19?

2024-03-20
New research indicates that antibiotics can effectively target bacteria in the gut that harbor the virus that causes COVID-19 and produce toxin-like peptides that contribute to COVID-19-related symptoms. In the study, which involved 211 participants and was published in the Journal of Medical Virology, individuals who received early antibiotic treatment after having COVID-19 recovered more quickly than those who did not receive antibiotics. The authors had already evaluated the efficacy of certain antibiotics in SARS-CoV-2-infected bacterial cultures in vitro, and this new study demonstrates ...

Does party affiliation affect consumer sentiment and spending intentions after elections?

2024-03-20
Consumer sentiment generally refers to consumers’ attitudes and expectations about economic conditions. A new analysis published in Economic Inquiry indicates that U.S. party affiliation has a significant effect on consumer sentiment, and that sentiment, in turn, affects spending intentions. In the study that relied on information dating back to 1991 and focused on data surrounding elections in which the governing party changed, survey respondents from Florida whose party affiliation matched the winning U.S. presidential candidate reported more optimistic views about personal and national economic conditions immediately after the election. In ...

Child Development Perspectives Journal Q&A: Universality of executive functions: A focus on Latin America

2024-03-20
Executive functions (EFs) have been defined as the ability to regulate emotions, thoughts, and behaviors to achieve a goal. Although EFs have been identified as a cornerstone of cognitive development, knowledge of this fundamental ability in children is primarily based on research with North American and Western European samples from middle to high socioeconomic status.   A new article published in the journal Child Development Perspectives highlights the advances that have been made in developmental EFs research from Latin American (LATAM) regions, an understudied area that provides a unique context important to understanding EFs. The ...

IVI starts technology transfer to Biological E. Limited to manufacture oral cholera vaccine for India and global markets

IVI starts technology transfer to Biological E. Limited to manufacture oral cholera vaccine for India and global markets
2024-03-20
IVI will complete the technology transfer by 2025 Oral Cholera Vaccine to be manufactured by Biological E. Limited for India and international markets   March 20, 2024, SEOUL, Republic of Korea and HYDERABAD, India — The International Vaccine Institute (IVI), an international organization with a mission to discover, develop, and deliver safe, effective, and affordable vaccines for global health, today announced that it has commenced a technology transfer of simplified Oral Cholera Vaccine (OCV-S) to Biological ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

First new treatment for asthma attacks in 50 years

Certain HRT tablets linked to increased heart disease and blood clot risk

Talking therapy and rehabilitation probably improve long covid symptoms, but effects modest

Ban medical research with links to the fossil fuel industry, say experts

Different menopausal hormone treatments pose different risks

Novel CAR T cell therapy obe-cel demonstrates high response rates in adult patients with advanced B-cell ALL

Clinical trial at Emory University reveals twice-yearly injection to be 96% effective in HIV prevention

Discovering the traits of extinct birds

Are health care disparities tied to worse outcomes for kids with MS?

For those with CTE, family history of mental illness tied to aggression in middle age

The sound of traffic increases stress and anxiety

Global food yields have grown steadily during last six decades

Children who grow up with pets or on farms may develop allergies at lower rates because their gut microbiome develops with more anaerobic commensals, per fecal analysis in small cohort study

North American Early Paleoindians almost 13,000 years ago used the bones of canids, felids, and hares to create needles in modern-day Wyoming, potentially to make the tailored fur garments which enabl

Higher levels of democracy and lower levels of corruption are associated with more doctors, independent of healthcare spending, per cross-sectional study of 134 countries

In major materials breakthrough, UVA team solves a nearly 200-year-old challenge in polymers

Wyoming research shows early North Americans made needles from fur-bearers

Preclinical tests show mRNA-based treatments effective for blinding condition

Velcro DNA helps build nanorobotic Meccano

Oceans emit sulfur and cool the climate more than previously thought

Nanorobot hand made of DNA grabs viruses for diagnostics and blocks cell entry

Rare, mysterious brain malformations in children linked to protein misfolding, study finds

Newly designed nanomaterial shows promise as antimicrobial agent

Scientists glue two proteins together, driving cancer cells to self-destruct

Intervention improves the healthcare response to domestic violence in low- and middle-income countries

State-wide center for quantum science: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology joins IQST as a new partner

Cellular traffic congestion in chronic diseases suggests new therapeutic targets

Cervical cancer mortality among US women younger than age 25

Fossil dung reveals clues to dinosaur success story

New research points way to more reliable brain studies

[Press-News.org] AI ethics are ignoring children, say Oxford researchers