TheAssociation Announcements: April 2024
Dear Members,
As spring takes hold, TheAssociation.AI is blossoming with new endeavors to propel our mission of responsible AI development and cross-disciplinary collaboration. I’m thrilled to share the latest updates.
Platform Enhancements
- Did you notice the new team Ethics & Policy page under our About section? This is the holding space for our implementation and guideline efforts. In the long term, there will be an issue intake, voting, knowledge base, publication channel, and change management automation in this space.
- We continue to work on the beta of an education platform. Again, our goal is to bridge to other platforms long term, but we will be starting with a list approach generated by you—what classes, certifications, books, or social media channels do you find helpful and want others to know?
- Have you tried the Talent Referral Program? Did you know you can get a 5k referral fee by helping someone land a new job? It’s easy to use, and easy money. There is TheAssociation.AI Job Board too! If you see a job that would resonate with our members, post it—it literally takes 2-3 minutes. If you’re hiring, let us help you find that all-star!
Policy & Ethics
With the flurry of AI laws and guidelines emerging from the EU AI Act to the U.S. Executive Order, we recognize the critical need for cohesive technical standards.
I’m excited to announce our new Policy & Governance Working Group to help untangle this regulatory web. We’ll develop implementation blueprints covering data management, model monitoring, documentation practices, and more. This is a call for experts to weigh in! As we continue to build the working groups, we are still moving the bar.
We are focusing on a more strategic, yet tactical approach centered on you. We have a responsibility as AI Implementers to not just do our day job but to think bigger picture. There are lots of ways you can be more hands on to truly guide the future.
Did you read our new members oath?
Q2 On the Road
We’re starting to hit the road (and air) for non-profit, conferences, company speaking engagements and AI/Data events!
From panel discussions to hands-on workshops, these local events are opportunities to connect, learn about cutting-edge use cases, and ensure all voices are heard as AI transcends borders.
If you’re attending the DCC West Conference in Portland on May 8th, DAMA Day on May 23rd, or CDO IQ Symposium in Boston July 16th to 18th, hit me up!
By the way, I’m so proud to announce we have grown enough and have enough brand recognition to be a sponsor for DAMA day!!!
The Great Debate: Innovation vs. Guardrails
I came across an insightful LinkedIn post highlighting the tug-of-war between unfettered technological progress and responsible guardrails. As AI capabilities grow exponentially, from code generation to photorealistic image creation, the ethical implications loom larger. How do we catalyze innovation while implementing sufficient safeguards?
We cannot ignore the risks of deepfakes, privacy violations, IP theft, theft, catfishing, mental and even physical harm the spreading of misinformation can do. But chasing the bleeding edge shouldn’t come at the cost of our core values and humanity’s wellbeing. I don’t have all the answers, but I do believe radical transparency, interdisciplinary collaboration, and co-designing solutions from the start are key.
Perhaps standards for intent labeling, watermarking, user verification, and human-AI workflow validation could be potential paths forward. But we need your perspectives at the forefront of this conversation. Technologists, regardless of which side you sit on, I urge you to engage in our forums, join working sessions, and help shape the future we want to see. Let’s create a space for open dialogue and find alignment on approaches that enable innovation safely.
As a collaborative, strategist with an open mind – these are the exact discussions and implementations I envisioned for TheAssociation. I want to do something radical a weekly, open discussion and debate based on a article, action, or specific innovations.
How about Wednesdays with Wendy & The Tech Tavern as a way to foster these vital conversations! Think of the founders, civic, political activists of old taverns were the go-to place to ensure secrecy, idea sharing, plan of actions, and more. I’m excited to kick this weekly event off on May 15th.
This will be a live virtual forum for us to discuss innovation, news, ethics, privacy, regulations, and potential implementation options. The goal is not for me to lecture, but to facilitate a deep dialogue where we can debate perspectives and explore middle paths that align for the greater good of all. Stay tuned for calendars and event detail and join me at the tavern!
Tech Vendors, Startups, Universities and Professional Organizations, lean in! If you are an AI/tech vendor like Microsoft, IBM, Oracle, NVIDIA, Google, Snowflake, AWS or an early startup in this space, a university or a professionals org like DAMA, IAPP, FPP, etc. please lean into our table. Your expertise is invaluable as we navigate these crucial ethical crossroads together.
United in Progress,
Wendy Turner-Williams
