The Four Cornerstones of AI: Ethics, Literacy, Technology, Tools

AI may look complex, but everything about it rests on four simple cornerstones: Ethics, Literacy, Technology, and Tools.

If we get these right, everything else falls in place.If we miss even one, the impact can be severe at a personal, organisational, or global level. These four cornerstones might seem deceptively simple.

One may ask why only these four, especially for a technology as ground-breaking as AI. These four encompass every dimension we need to worry about, fully and meaningfully.

To illustrate:

• When we talk about sustainability, we are talking about Ethics.

• When we talk about curriculum, skill-building, or CoEs, we are talking about Literacy.

• When we talk about infrastructure, security, or application development, we are talking about Technology.

When we talk about choosing the right tool for the right purpose, we are talking about Tools.Each of these cornerstones is intertwined with the others.Understanding them in their own context helps us understand AI as a whole.

Let us go deeper…

Ethics

No shortcuts will help here. Ethics must always come first, and the list must start with ethics and end with tools.

AI is omnipresent, therefore, understanding ethics is essential. AI breathes through data. If data is the new oil or AI is the new electricity, we must use it judiciously. No other technology has been built on consumer and corporate data at this scale.

In our school days, we had classes that taught values and morals through stories and fables. Today, industry veterans must do this at scale for AI creators and users.

We must define boundaries clearly. Policies must tighten like never before. Every individual must think about whether what they are doing impacts the world positively or negatively.

Geopolitical, climatic, financial, legal, moral, and ethical boundaries must be written, or rewritten, clearly and firmly.

Literacy

Since we have become the “products”, and our data is used everywhere, we need to learn AI. We don’t have a choice.

We cannot afford to be AI illiterates.

A lack of awareness can cause immense harm.Some AI-illiterate youngsters taking pictures or indulging in inappropriate actions can cause damage to themselves and others. Rumours may spread faster than ever. Financial scams can cost innocent investors their lifetime savings.

Knowledge remains power supreme.

Technology

There is a lot of work ahead for true technologists. Behind the ease of AI-powered tools, the technology must be strong and foundational.

Democratisation of knowledge has made non-techies feel coding is easy. But to build robust systems, one must understand the technology of AI. One must know how to architect reliable and secure systems, even if they are not enterprise-grade.

Enterprises must exercise caution when intertwining AI into their tech stack. Nothing gives immediate returns. Letting people go before a technology proves itself can be short-sighted.

Traditional business analysts, architects, database designers, developers, and testers must undergo intense AI training. The AI CoE must enable every role player with the right literacy and skilling. HR must curate new roles and titles.

We will need more data modellers, scientists, engineers, machine learning experts, and statisticians.

We will need more thinkers who can guide enterprises on whether AI is needed at all.

Tools

Tools are everywhere. AI-enabled, AI-powered, AI-engineered, AI-wrapped, in all shapes and sizes.

Unfortunately, most of them do not stand the test of time. They come as fast as they go.Just as a technologist gets used to a tool, an upgrade arrives with more features, leaving the user confused.

Tools can now be created by the hour.But that does not make one a technologist. At best, one must learn what a tool is used for, its contemporaries, and which one suits the purpose.

We must study the landscape carefully. We must evaluate the need for a tool, not adopt it for its novelty.

AI is not a fad. It is here to stay. To sustain, one must go deep. To build things that last, one must stay relevant.

Fundamentals matter more than ever.

In Summary

These four cornerstones will define the way forward for individuals, enterprises, and nations.

At least to that extent, life can be made simpler.