"The "new green"? Business and the responsible use of algorithms," 17 May 2018

Algorithms now take decisions with varying degrees of autonomy in a range of situations, including the criminal justice system, financial services, human resources, advertising..., and healthcare. As algorithms are entrusted with ever more sensitive decisions, this increasing reliance on AI is raising serious human rights and privacy concerns... The analysis and predictions outputted by AI algorithms depend on the data that is inputted—if this is biased in some way, then the outputs will reflect that bias... Businesses need to work with governments and civil society to avoid biased and discriminatory uses of AI becoming entrenched. Even as regulation around the application of algorithms to business is being developed, the obligations to protect human rights still apply... businesses can learn lessons from environmental campaigns and the global movement to tackle climate change. Just as consumers expect companies to be environmentally aware (by minimizing their carbon footprint, and reducing the use of plastic packaging, for example), there could be a significant commercial advantage for companies to use algorithms correctly and responsibly.