How AI is being regulated: Professors Sandra Wachter and Brent Mittelstadt

Feb 13, 2025

Professor Sandra Wachter, an expert on AI regulation and ethics, and Professor Brent Mittelstadt, who specializes in data ethics, delve into the current landscape of artificial intelligence governance. They discuss pressing concerns like algorithmic bias, the risks of misinformation, and the challenges policymakers face in balancing innovation with accountability. The conversation highlights the need for critical evaluation of AI outputs and calls for stronger regulations to address ethical implications and societal impacts while navigating the complexities of AI technology.

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INSIGHT

Oversimplification of Fairness

Translating values like equality into quantifiable metrics for AI can oversimplify and worsen outcomes.
AI fairness solutions often level down by making systems equally bad for everyone.

INSIGHT

Bias Tests and the Law

Two-thirds of common AI bias tests clash with European non-discrimination law.
This highlights the need for interdisciplinary and international collaboration in AI regulation.

ANECDOTE

Google's Racist IQ Results

Google's AI cited debunked, racist research on IQ and ethnicity.
This exemplifies the 'careless speech' problem, where AI presents subtly incorrect information.

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The current state of artificial intelligence regulation, the potential negative consequences of AI proliferation, and what needs to change about how AI is governed by policymakers, with Professor Sandra Wachter and Professor Brent Mittelstadt. The current state of artificial intelligence regulation, the potential negative consequences of AI proliferation, and what needs to change about how AI is governed by policymakers, with Professor Sandra Wachter (Oxford Internet Institute) and Professor Brent Mittelstadt (Oxford Internet Institute).

In the fifth episode of the OII Podcast, our experts discuss topics such as:

* The current state of artificial intelligence regulation, and what needs to change about how AI is governed by policymakers
* The potential negative consequences of AI proliferation, including its societal, environmental, and ethical harms
* The subtle distinctions between hallucinations and careless speech, and why the latter is harder to recognise

Professor Sandra Wachter is Professor of Technology and Regulation at the Oxford Internet Institute at the University of Oxford where she researches the legal and ethical implications of AI, Big Data, and robotics as well as Internet and platform regulation.

Professor Brent Mittelstadt is Professor of Data Ethics and Policy at the Oxford Internet Institute (OII) at the University of Oxford, and the OII's Director of Research. He also coordinates of the Governance of Emerging Technologies (GET) research programme which works across ethics, law, and emerging information technologies.

Veena McCoole is Media and Communications Manager for the Oxford Internet Institute.

The OII Podcast looks at issues and developments in the digital world that matter to us all, and explores them through thought-provoking conversations with experts and practitioners.

To keep up with forthcoming episodes, follow the OII on social media where new episodes will be announced. Our social media links can be found on our website: https://www.oii.ox.ac.uk/ (see end of page).