Reflective Muse: Navigating the AI Ethics Labyrinth: A Business Imperative

Raymond Manookian
2 min readJan 25, 2024

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AI’s bias problem — how past mistakes shape a more inclusive future

The saying "history doesn't repeat itself, but it often rhymes" holds particularly true in AI. The Wired article "Why AI bias can hurt your business" is a stark reminder of the lingering shadows of bias in AI systems. It's a wake-up call for businesses: unchecked AI bias is not just an ethical mishap but a potential pitfall for your brand's reputation and bottom line.

Historical evidence is rife with examples where AI, despite its objective façade, fell prey to human biases. One notable case is a recruiting tool favouring male candidates over female ones, reflecting and perpetuating existing gender biases.

This is not just a bug in the code; it’s a mirror reflecting our societal biases.

But there's a silver lining. Today, there's a growing consciousness about these issues, and businesses increasingly view AI through the lens of ethics and sustainability. The intersection of AI and ethics is not just about avoiding harm; it's about actively doing good and ensuring inclusivity and fairness are integral to AI solutions.

This is not just about compliance or damage control for businesses and anyone tasked with shaping experience within digital transformation. It's about leadership and setting new standards in a digital world. Inclusivity in AI is not a box-ticking exercise; it's a strategic imperative that opens doors to diverse markets and ideas, fostering innovation and resilience.

As we move forward, it's essential to keep in mind that AI is a tool that can enhance human potential rather than diminish it. It's a process that requires continuous learning, unlearning, and relearning. Perhaps through this journey, we can create more intelligent machines and become wiser.

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Raymond Manookian

A director of CX navigating the future of AI. Curious by nature and designer by trade. A culture vulture, food nut, music fan and proud dad.