Essay: humans as principals: by Nando Piersma

In her essay titled "Humans as Principals", Nanda Piersma argues that the current AI hype often distracts from what we actually want to solve. Instead of developing technology just for the sake of it, we need to think about the real problems AI should address. Piersma questions the necessity of AI in certain contexts, such as using advanced image recognition for simple tasks like counting people in a supermarket, which could easily be done with a low-tech solution.

She provides examples of how AI is sometimes applied unnecessarily, such as in smart refrigerators with cameras, raising privacy concerns. Piersma warns that blindly following the AI hype creates more ethical dilemmas than it resolves. She highlights the issues with incomplete AI systems, such as facial recognition that only identifies white faces, which often cause more harm than benefit.

According to Piersma, responsible AI can only be achieved through co-creation with entrepreneurs and designers, where humans are seen as principals, not just users. This requires innovation that is not only technologically advanced but also ethically sound and tailored to human needs.

For the full essay, visit De mens als opdrachtgever.