IEEE Announces Standards Project Addressing Algorithmic Bias Considerations

PISCATAWAY, NJ, 09 March 2017 – IEEE, the world’s largest technical professional organization dedicated to advancing technology for humanity, and the IEEE Standards Association (IEEE SA), today announced the approval of IEEE P7003™—Algorithmic Bias Considerations. The new standards development project aims to provide individuals and organizations creating algorithms the certification-oriented methodologies that clearly articulate accountability and clarity around how algorithms target, assess and influence users and stakeholders of autonomous or intelligent systems.

“The rapid growth of algorithmic driven services has led to growing concerns among civil society, legislators, industry bodies and academics about potential unintended and undesirable biases within intelligent systems,” said Konstantinos Karachalios, managing director for IEEE SA. “IEEE’s commitment to ethical alignment in intelligent and autonomous systems is further demonstrated by the approval of IEEE P7003, and follows in line with a number of initiatives and projects that are creating an all-encompassing framework to ensure end users and stakeholders are protected by prioritizing ethics in the development of new technologies.”

IEEE P7003 will allow algorithm creators to communicate to regulatory authorities and users that the most up-to-date best practices are used in the design, testing and evaluation of algorithms in order to avoid unjustified differential impact on users.

“The growth of autonomous and intelligent systems is significantly elevating the importance of accountability, transparency, and ethical considerations in regards to the creation of algorithms,” says Angela Burgess, executive director, IEEE Computer Society. “As project sponsor of IEEE P7003, the IEEE Computer Society remains committed to the support and responsibility of algorithm creators to prioritize accountability and ethics within new frameworks of all levels of design, testing and evaluation, reducing the impact of discrimination and encouraging neutrality and fairness for future technologies.”

The initiation of IEEE P7003 comes in conjunction with the recent release of the IEEE publication Ethically Aligned Design: A Vision for Prioritizing Human Wellbeing with Artificial Intelligence and Autonomous Systems, a document that encourages technologists to prioritize ethical considerations in the creation of autonomous and intelligent technologies. Both the document and IEEE P7003 are inspired by the work being done in The IEEE Global Initiative for Ethical Considerations in Artificial Intelligence and Autonomous Systems.

“Engineers and technologists, and the organizations they work for, need to provide clarity around how the issues of bias are addressed in the creation and application of algorithms,” said Dr. Ansgar Koene, chair, IEEE P7003. “This standard will provide the required accountability to show algorithms are developed and applied without issues of negative bias aimed at protected characteristics of individuals or groups, including such considerations as race, gender and sexuality.”

To learn more about the project, or to join the Working Group please visit the IEEE P7003 website.

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