What Could Go Wrong? The Ethics Behind Everyday AI

In the previous week's RMAIIG meeting, they explore practical ways people are using AI to save time, automate work, research faster, write, code, create, and experiment.

This week, the AI Safety & Ethics subgroup will ask the natural follow-up question: What happens when those useful AI techniques become part of everyday life?

A clever workflow can also introduce hidden tradeoffs. An AI research shortcut may save time but increase the risk of confident errors. A meeting-summary tool may be convenient but raise privacy questions. An AI agent may increase productivity while making it less clear who is accountable for its actions. A writing assistant may help someone communicate more effectively while raising questions about authorship and disclosure.

We’ll use practical AI workflows as starting points for a broader conversation about responsible use.

Topics may include:

• Privacy and confidential information
• Accuracy, verification, and over-reliance
• Disclosure of AI-generated or AI-assisted work
• Automation and human oversight
• Bias and unintended consequences
• Intellectual property and attribution
• Accountability when AI makes or influences decisions
• How our norms may change as AI becomes more capable

You do not need to have attended the previous RMAIIG meeting, and no technical expertise is required.

Come ready to share an AI workflow you use, one you’ve seen others use, or simply a situation where you’ve wondered:

“This is useful... but should we be doing it this way?”

All are welcome. We aim for thoughtful, respectful conversation across different backgrounds and viewpoints. Please critique ideas, not people; assume good faith; and avoid sharing private or confidential information.

Come hang out, grab a drink or a bite, and enjoy a low-key evening with the local AI ethics community.