BUSINESS STUDIES

The Ethics of AI in Business and Law 🤖

I can bet that you’ve heard about ChatGPT, or at the very least AI (Artificial Intelligence). It’s all the hype nowadays, from self-driving cars to smart virtual assistants, and even AI art! But what exactly is AI? In simple terms, it is a technology that is trained to produce results as if generated by a human. AI can solve problems using data (words, pictures, numbers) to work quickly and effectively.

These days, businesses are using AI more than ever to work faster, smarter, and more efficiently. But how does it actually work, and what should we watch out for?

💡 Things to consider

• Limited Memory vs. Reactive Machine AI: Limited Memory AI is the most common type, notably used in ChatGPT and self-driving cars. It learns from memory and improves its decision-making skills over time. Reactive Machine AI, by contrast, does not learn from itself; it solely analyses specific sources. Netflix uses this type for its recommendation system! Limited Memory AI comes with higher risk, as its ‘black box’ effect results in uncertainty between the beginning of its learning process and the end result. This makes it harder to trace its progress and sources.

  

  ChatGPT reacting to me asking it the most basic question

• Who is at fault when things go wrong?: On the surface, it is not clear whether AI manufacturers, software developers, or users are legally responsible for harm caused by AI. Establishing a duty of care is difficult when AI has learned from itself and has become significantly separated from its origins. The issue has had very little discussion in court, and businesses will have to take extra care when assessing the risks of their products. For example, using quality checks and providing users with detailed instructions may be safe solutions.

  

• Using AI as a tool, not a replacement: It is becoming more common for some businesses, such as law firms, to use AI to analyse and create documents. However, human oversight is important to ensure the tool has been accurate in its job. Although technology changes the role of lawyers, it presents an opportunity to shift focus onto tasks that cannot be replicated by a machine (e.g. client relationship building). AI has also been known to cite fictitious cases and cannot provide the human elements of client interaction, making lawyers necessary for producing high-quality work.

  

  Future graduates after ChatGPT steals their jobs? We hope not!

🔎 Find out more

• Different Types of AI

• More on AI Liability

• AI in Law

🍒 The cherry on top

• 👪 ADHD in Adults: Buzzwords like neurodiversity are becoming more mainstream, as increasing numbers of children and adults receive diagnoses for conditions such as ADHD. Does this mean that more people have ADHD today than 30 years ago — or that we are better at diagnosing it? And do the ways of diagnosing people need to change? A thought-provoking read for anyone interested in Psychology or Education.

• 📚 Was Shakespeare a Fraud? William Shakespeare is on every British student’s GCSE English syllabus. In fact, his fame stretches across the globe. But is it really his success? Watch this video for a dive into the controversies surrounding Shakespeare’s authenticity. Particularly interesting for anyone interested in English or History.

• 🏛️ Secrets of Roman Concrete Unveiled: This MIT News article reveals how Roman concrete’s legendary durability came from “hot mixing” with quicklime, giving it self-healing abilities that modern concrete lacks. Researchers found that lime clasts formed during hot mixing could react with water to seal cracks, explaining why Roman structures like the Pantheon have stood for millennia. A fascinating read for those interested in Chemistry, Material Sciences, or Engineering.

👀 Keep your eyes peeled for…

• Wednesday 9th July:

  • Cambridge Judaism Enrichment Day

  • Homerton College Cambridge History Subject Focus Session

• Thursday 10th July:

  • University of Essex Psychology Taster Session

  • University of Law SQE Information Session

• Monday 14th July

  • London Metropolitan University Careers in Education Webinar

  • London Metropolitan University Pharmaceutical Sciences Webinar

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