Josefin Rosén: "Everyone working with AI needs a framework"
What does it take to responsibly harness the full potential of AI technology? In TechSweden's interview series Focus: AI, AI expert Josefin Rosén gives her view on the explosive development.
Josefin Rosén, PhD has worked with AI and advanced analytics for over 20 years and has long been focused on creating awareness around responsible AI and helping organizations implement AI responsibly. Recently Josefin Rosén, who has been nominated as a finalist for AI Swedish of the Year, was introduced in a new role as Trustworthy AI specialist in SAS Global Data Ethics Practice starting September 1.
- It is of course impossible to miss the explosive developments in generative AI, and especially in LLMs (language models that enable computers to understand and use human language), in recent months. So is the usage - everyone from children to grandparents is now experimenting with generative AI such as ChatGPT. "I have never discussed AI in private contexts, during dinner parties, after-work and family gatherings, as much as in recent months," says Josefin Rosén.
As head of the Nordic AI team at the software company SAS Institute, she has experienced at first hand a great fascination with how generative AI systems can make people's everyday lives easier, but also a concern as a result of often biased news reporting.
- Thankfully, we are also seeing an increased focus on management and governance, and on formulating principles and laws for AI. The EU is leading the way with the AI Act, but thankfully similar work is underway in most of the world.
Josefin Rosén has daily discussions with organizations about the necessary tools to implement AI responsibly, create transparency throughout the lifecycle and manage AI over time so that it is right and proper also in the long run. She believes that in the future we will see the biggest developments in generative AI.
"I think health care and pharmaceutical research will lead the way"
- We will probably move from "I want to be everything to everyone applications" like ChatGPT to becoming more specific and specialized. To really take advantage of the rapid developments we've seen in recent months in, for example, LLMs, but for tailored applications that build on their strengths. There is great potential in most areas, but I think healthcare and drug discovery will lead the way. Both in terms of improved and faster diagnosis, but also in the development of new drugs using generative methods.
Josefin Rosén hopes that AI will be able to help solve climate issues. She describes the potential as enormous.
What will it take for us to harness the full potential of AI technology while doing so responsibly?
- We need a continued focus on AI governance and regulation. Not just in the EU, but worldwide. Everyone working with AI needs to have a framework in place that enables the development and use of AI in a responsible way. We also need a more nuanced debate in the media. I think it's about time we talk about AI in a responsible way that doesn't scare people unnecessarily but rather promotes trust. AI has enormous potential to do good in society. In fact, I think the chances of AI helping us overcome major problems and threats far outweigh the chances of causing them!