The motto that should drive AI

Ben Hogan once said, “Playing a tournament is almost an anticlimax. Tournaments are won and lost in preparation.” Boy Scouts second that notion with their motto: BE PREPARED.

Expressed in many languages, “be prepared” is a powerful reminder: Toujours Pret (French), Siempre Listo (Spanish), Budi Pripravan (Croatian), Sii Preparato (Italian), and Wees Gereed (South African). Thinking ahead helps us do the right thing at the right moment.

Artificial intelligence should follow a similar motto if it is to be implemented accurately and effectively. Its guiding purpose should be a commitment to societal progress, not financial exploitation. AI development should slow the algorithmic process into a more controlled and deliberate approach. Today, it too often rushes past careful preparation and fails to fully consider the public good and social return on investment.

Creating a future in which artificial intelligence prioritizes well-being over financial metrics requires a new approach to governance. This ethical challenge includes questions of access, privacy and accountability.

Be prepared.

Bob Simmons

Arlington Heights