Big Tech Companies Impact on Research at the Faculty of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering

TL;DR

This paper examines how large technology companies influence AI research and ethics at the Faculty of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, highlighting their impact on research directions, ethical standards, and talent attraction.

Contribution

It provides an analysis of the role of Big Tech in shaping AI research ethics and practices within academic institutions, revealing their influence on research priorities and ethical standards.

Findings

Big Tech companies significantly influence AI research ethics.

Researchers with ties to Big Tech impact ethical standards.

Big Tech's influence affects talent attraction and research focus.

Abstract

Artificial intelligence is gaining momentum, ongoing pandemic is fuel to that with more opportunities in every sector specially in health and education sector. But with the growth in technology, challenges associated with ethics also grow (Katharine Schwab, 2021). Whenever a new AI product is developed, companies publicize that their systems are transparent, fair, and are in accordance with the existing laws and regulations as the methods and procedures followed by a big tech company for ensuring AI ethics, not only affect the trust and perception of public, but it also challenges the capabilities of the companies towards business strategies in different regions, and the kind of brains it can attract for their projects. AI Big Tech companies have influence over AI ethics as many influencing ethical-AI researchers have roots in Big Tech or its associated labs.