Unit–1: Revisiting AI Project

Cycle & Ethical Frameworks for

AI
AI Project Cycle
Introduction
Let us assume that you have to make a greeting card for your mother as it is
her birthday. You are very excited about it and have thought of many ideas
to execute the same. Let us look at some of the steps which you might take
to accomplish this task:

1. Look for some cool greeting card ideas from

different sources. You might go online and check out
some videos or you may ask someone who knows
about it.
2. After finalising the design, you would make a list of
things that are required to make this card.
3. You will check if you have the material
with you or not. If not, you could go and get
all the items required, ready for use.
4. Once you have everything with you, you will
start making the card.
5. If you make a mistake in the card
somewhere which cannot be rectified, you
will discard it and start remaking it.
6. Once the greeting card is made, you will gift it
to your mother.
These steps show how we plan to execute the tasks
around us. Consciously or subconsciously our mind
makes up plans for every task which we have to
accomplish which is why things become clearer in our
mind. Similarly, if we have to develop an AI project, the
AI Project Cycle provides us with an appropriate
framework which can lead us towards the goal. The AI
project cycle is the cyclical process followed to
complete an AI project. The AI Project Cycle mainly has
6 stages:
Starting with Problem Scoping, you set the goal for your AI
project by stating the problem which you wish to solve with it.
Under problem scoping, we look at various parameters which
affect the problem we wish to solve so that the picture becomes
clearer.
To proceed,
You need to acquire data which will become the base of your
project as it will help you understand what the parameters that
are related to problem scoping are.
 ● You go for data acquisition by collecting data from various
reliable and authentic sources. Since the data you collect would be
in large quantities, you can try to give it a visual image of different
types of representations like graphs, databases, flow charts, maps,
etc. This makes it easier for you to interpret the patterns which
your acquired data follows.
● After exploring the patterns, you can decide upon the type of
model you would build to achieve the goal. For this, you can
research online and select various models which give a suitable
output.

● You can test the selected models and figure out which is the most
efficient one.
● Once the modelling is complete, you now
need to test your model on some newly
fetched data. The results will help you in
evaluating your model and improving it.

● Finally, after evaluation, the deployment

stage is crucial for ensuring the successful
integration and operation of AI solutions in
real-world environments, enabling them to
deliver value and impact to users and
stakeholders.
1.: Introduction to AI Domains
2.Artificial Intelligence becomes intelligent according
to the training it gets. For training, the machine is fed
with datasets. According to the applications for which
the AI algorithm is being developed, the data fed into it
changes. With respect to the type of data fed in the AI
model, AI models can be broadly categorized into
three domains:
Statistical Data
Statistical Data is a domain of AI related to data systems and processes, in
which the system collects numerous data, maintains data sets and derives
meaning/sense out of them.
The information extracted through statistical data can be used to make a
decision about it.
Example of Statistical Data
Price Comparison Websites
These websites are being driven by lots and lots of data. If
you have ever used these websites, you would know, the
convenience of comparing the price of a product from
multiple vendors in one place. PriceGrabber, PriceRunner,
Junglee, Shopzilla, DealTime are some examples of price
comparison websites. Nowadays, price comparison
websites can be found in almost every domain such as
technology, hospitality, automobiles, durables, apparel, etc.
Computer Vision

Computer Vision, abbreviated as CV, is a domain of AI that depicts the

capability of a machine to get and analyse visual information and
afterwards predict some decisions about it. The entire process involves
image acquiring, screening, analysing, identifying and extracting
information. This extensive processing helps computers to understand any
visual content and act on it accordingly. In computer vision, Input to
machines can be photographs, videos and pictures from thermal or
infrared sensors, indicators and different sources.

Computer vision-related projects translate digital visual data into

descriptions. This data is then turned into computer-readable language to
aid the decision-making process. The main objective of this domain of AI is
to teach machines to collect information from pixels.
Examples of Computer Vision
Agricultural Monitoring
Computer vision is employed in agriculture for crop
monitoring, pest detection, and yield estimation. Drones
with cameras capture aerial images of farmland, which are
then analysed to assess crop health and optimize farming
practices.
Surveillance Systems
Computer vision is used in surveillance systems to monitor
public spaces, buildings, and borders. It can detect
suspicious activities, track individuals or vehicles, and
provide real-time alerts to security personnel.
Natural Language Processing

Natural Language Processing, abbreviated as NLP, is a

branch of artificial intelligence that deals with the
interaction between computers and humans using the
natural language. Natural language refers to language that
is spoken and written by people, and natural language
processing (NLP) attempts to extract information from the
spoken and written word using algorithms.
The ultimate objective of NLP is to read, decipher,
understand, and make sense of human languages in a
valuable manner.
Examples of Natural Language Processing
Email filters
Email filters are one of the most basic and initial
applications of NLP online. It started with spam filters,
uncovering certain words or phrases that signal a spam
message.
Machine Translation
NLP is used in machine translation systems like Google
Translate and Microsoft Translator to automatically
translate text from one language to another. These
systems analyze the structure and semantics of sentences
in the source language and generate equivalent
translations in the target language.
Ethical Frameworks for A
 Frameworks
Frameworks are a set of steps that help us in solving problems.
It provides a step-by-step guide for solving problems in an
organized manner. Moreover, frameworks offer a structured
approach to problem-solving, ensuring that all relevant factors
and considerations are taken into account. Additionally, they
serve as a common language for communication and
collaboration, facilitating the sharing of best practices and
promoting consistency in problem- solving methodologies.
You may have used frameworks without knowing it! Can
you think of one framework you have come across during
your AI journey?
Ethical Frameworks
We know that ethics are a set of values or morals which help us separate
right from wrong. Frameworks are step-by-step guidance on solving
problems.
Hence, Ethical frameworks are frameworks which help us ensure that the
choices we make do not cause unintended harm.
Furthermore, ethical frameworks provide a systematic approach to
navigating complex moral dilemmas by considering various ethical
principles and perspectives. By utilizing ethical frameworks, individuals and
organizations can
make well- informed decisions that
align with their values and promote
positive outcomes for all stakeholders
involved
Why do we need Ethical Frameworks for AI?

As we have seen how bias could result in unwanted outcomes in

AI solutions. Think of thehiring algorithm which was biased
against women applicants!
AI is essentially being used as a decision-making/ influencing
tool. As such we need to ensure that AI makes morally
acceptable recommendations
Ethical frameworks ensure that AI makes morally acceptable
choices. If we use ethical frameworks while building our AI
solutions, we can avoid unintended outcomes, even before they
take place!
Types of Ethical Frameworks
The various types of ethical frameworks are classified as follows:
 Ethical frameworks for AI can be categorized into two main types:
sector-based and value- based frameworks.
1. Sector-based Frameworks:
These are frameworks tailored to specific sectors or industries.
In the context of AI, one common sector-based framework is
Bioethics, which focuses on ethical considerations in healthcare. It
addresses issues such as patient privacy, data security, and the
ethical use of AI in medical decision-making. Sector-based ethical
frameworks may also apply to domains such as finance,
education, transportation, agriculture, governance, and law
enforcement.
1. Value-based Frameworks:
Value-based frameworks focus on fundamental ethical principles and
values guiding decision- making. It reflects the different moral
philosophies that inform ethical reasoning. Value-based frameworks
are concerned with assessing the moral worth of actions and guiding
ethical behaviour. They can be further classified into three categories:
i) Rights-based: Prioritizes the protection of human rights and
dignity, valuing human life over other considerations. It emphasizes
the importance of respecting individual autonomy, dignity, and
freedoms. In the context of AI, this could involve ensuring that AI
systems do not violate human rights or discriminate against certain
groups.
 ii) Utility-based: Evaluates actions based on the principle of
maximizing utility or overall good, aiming to achieve outcomes that
offer the greatest benefit and minimize harm. It seeks to maximize
overall utility or benefit for the greatest number of people. In AI, this
might involve weighing the potential benefits of AI applications
against the risks they pose to society, such as job displacement or
privacy concerns.
iii) Virtue-based: This framework focuses on the character and
intentions of the individuals involved in decision-making. It asks
whether the actions of individuals or organizations align with virtuous
principles such as honesty, compassion, and integrity. In the context of
AI, virtue ethics could involve considering whether developers, users,
and regulators uphold ethical values throughout the AI lifecycle.
These classifications provide a structured approach for
addressing ethical concerns in AI development and
deployment, ensuring that considerations relevant to
specific sectors and fundamental ethical values are
adequately addressed.
Let’s explore a popular framework which is used in the
healthcare industry.
Bioethics
Bioethics is an ethical framework used in healthcare and life
sciences. It deals with ethical issues related to health, medicine,
and biological sciences, ensuring that AI applications in healthcare
adhere to ethical standards and considerations.

Principles of bioethics:
i.Respect for Autonomy.
ii.Do not harm.
iii.Ensure maximum benefit for all.
iv.Give justice.
The four principles of bioethics can be used to ensure an ethical AI
solution for the healthcare problem.
•Respect for autonomy: Enabling users to be fully aware of decision-
making. E.g., users of an AI algorithm should know how it functions.
i. The data that models were trained on, and used to make decisions,
should be reproducible and accessible to the patients.
ii. In the event of performance concerns, model predictions and data
labels should be released.
•Do not harm: Harm to anyone (be it human or non–human) must
be avoided at all costs. If no choice is available path of least harm
must be always chosen.
i. Promote well-being, minimize harm, and ensure that benefits
and harms are distributed among stakeholders in a just manner.
ii. The AI algorithm must be trained on data sets that equitably
reduce harm for all, not just harm for some groups.
• In this instance, patients from other
regions excluding western part who
were less ill would receive more
intensive care from doctors than
patients who actuallyrequire help.
• This algorithm, if implemented, would
actively harm patients belong to western
region by inappropriately recommending
healthcare resource allocation.
•Maximum benefit: Not only should we avoid harm our actions
must focus on providing the maximum benefit possible.
The solution should be held to clinical practice standards, not
merely technological ethics standards.
i.It should go beyond nonmaleficence and strive for
beneficence.
• Considering the example, we discussed,
the AI algorithm should not only avoid
causing harm to patients from the
western region but also provide benefits
to these patients, as well as patients from
other regions and of all races.
• Is there a better data set for training that
reflects the healthcare needs and
outcomes of patients of all races?
• The data we use for training must be unbiased.
Justice: All benefits and burdens of a particular choice must be
distributed in a justified manner across people irrespective of their
background.
i.Solution development requires concerted and in-depth
knowledge of social structures at play that result in issues like
racism and sexism (a few types of societal biases).
ii.The solution needs to be aware of social determinants of
healthcare and actively work against those structures.

We saw that abiding by bioethical

principles could have helped us to avoid
the unintended consequences of the AI
solution.