Navigating the Risk Landscape: A Deep Dive into Generative AI
Aug 31, 2023
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Andrew Burt, Managing Partner at Luminos.Law, discusses the challenges and risks of generative AI, including the importance of accurate footnotes and risk management. They explore the FTC probe into OpenAI and the NIST AI Risk Management Framework. They highlight the need for planning, documentation, and attention to detail in managing AI systems.
Education and documentation are essential in managing and minimizing the risks associated with generative AI systems.
Cross-functional collaboration and prompt risk detection and response are key for effective risk management in generative AI systems.
Deep dives
The Growing Importance of Risk Management for Generative AI Systems
The use of generative AI systems is becoming increasingly popular, with many businesses rushing to adopt these systems. However, the risks associated with generative AI are also growing, and it is crucial to manage and mitigate these risks effectively. Organizations need to educate themselves and their teams, including lawyers, data scientists, engineers, and information security personnel, on the potential dangers and challenges of generative AI. Although it is impossible to completely prevent risks, organizations can take steps to minimize and manage them. Testing is a critical aspect of risk management, and more attention should be given to developing standardized testing plans and strategies. Documentation is also essential for understanding and addressing risks effectively. Overall, the focus should be on thinking fast, innovating, but also acting responsibly to detect and respond to risks in generative AI systems.
The Need for Cross-Functional Teams and Organizational Shifts
Generative AI systems require collaboration and coordination among different teams, including data scientists, product teams, legal officers, and UI designers. It is important to break down silos and ensure that all relevant stakeholders are involved from the early stages of development. This cross-functional approach enables better risk management and ensures that different perspectives and expertise are considered. Clear documentation of roles and responsibilities is crucial in this process. The traditional paradigm of risk management, focusing on mean time between failures, is no longer sufficient. Instead, organizations should strive for a quicker mean time to repair, emphasizing prompt detection and response to risks. Additionally, organizations should consider adopting strategies such as red teaming exercises and tabletop simulations to proactively identify and address potential risks.
The Challenge of Testing and Mitigating Risks in Generative AI
Testing is a critical aspect of managing risks in generative AI systems. Given the inherent uncertainties and potential for errors in these systems, robust and standardized testing plans are essential. Organizations need to develop strategies that cover a wide range of testing scenarios, including prompt engineering, input-output analysis, and user feedback mechanisms. This requires careful documentation and standardization of testing procedures to ensure consistency and effectiveness. Moreover, organizations should adopt a mindset that acknowledges the limitations of generative AI and focuses on minimizing and managing risks rather than aiming for complete prevention. Techniques like retrieval augmentation and disclaimers in user interfaces can also play a role in managing risks in generative AI. The goal is to address risks promptly, continuously improve systems, and maintain transparency and user awareness of system limitations.
Rethinking Innovation and Risk in Generative AI
The rapid advancement and increasing adoption of generative AI require organizations to rethink their approach to innovation and risk management. The traditional mindset of moving fast and breaking things may not be suitable for the complex and high-risk nature of generative AI. Instead, organizations should adopt a more balanced approach, thinking slow and acting fast. This means emphasizing careful planning, documentation, and risk assessment before moving forward with innovative projects. The NIST AI Risk Management Framework provides an effective framework for managing risks in generative AI systems and should be considered as a key resource. By recognizing the need for attention to detail, robust testing, cross-functional collaboration, and prompt detection and response to risks, organizations can navigate the challenges of generative AI more effectively and ensure the responsible and successful deployment of these systems.
Andrew Burt is the Managing Partner at Luminos.Law, the first law firm focused on helping teams manage the privacy, fairness, security, and transparency of their AI and data — including generative AI systems. We explore the state of risk and compliance in light of generative AI. This episode further explores the challenges and risks posed by AI, and the implications of the FTC probe into OpenAI, as well as the NIST AI Risk Management Framework.