Take on Board podcast on the ethics of AI

The AI train has left the station, but boards and organisations should take a breath before jumping on board.

It’s not just about a lack of tech know-how; it’s about staying true to your organisation’s purpose and values.

In my latest conversation with Helga Svendsen’s Take on Board podcast, we discuss how AI can create unexpected risks for organisations, from environmental impact to issues with copyright, data security, and bias.

Episode 318: AI in the boardroom mini series – Kate Larsen says it’s time to talk about the ethics of AI

The podcast touches on:

• Unreliable Data: A recent report found AI platforms have a 60-90% error rate. This means any time saved using AI is lost verifying its accuracy, raising questions about its value and impact on productivity.
• Environmental Cost: A single AI query can use 10-50 times more energy than a standard search, and a single request requires a full bottle of water to cool the servers.
• Copyright and IP: Generative AI platforms often use unlicensed, uncredited material, creating legal and ethical headaches for organisations.
• Organisational Hypocrisy: Using biased AI or technology that undermines creative skills can directly contradict your stated values on diversity, inclusion, and supporting creators.

‘Kate’s key takeaway? Don’t let the pressure to adopt AI override a thoughtful cost-benefit analysis. A “no-AI-for-now” policy can be a perfectly valid and ethical choice.’

Listen online or wherever you get your podcasts.

Or you can watch the recording on the Take on Board YouTube page:

Further reading: Palestine as a governance issue

Check out all of the articles and resources in my series on Palestine as a governance issue.

AI policy

I am a concerned and conscientious objector to the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies. You can read more about my many objections in my recent piece on raining on the parade of generative AI in the arts (and everywhere else).

If you consume or use my work or writing, you can be sure that the creativity, labour and language that goes into it are either my own or drawn from the wisdom of the clever humans I reference or cite, and that I do not intentionally use Al to research, generate or edit in any part of my writing or publishing processes.

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