Accountability in Artificial Intelligence: What It Is and How It Works

AI & Society: Journal of Knowledge, Culture and Communication - Springer https://doi.org/10.1007/s00146-023-01635-y

21 Pages Posted: 9 Aug 2022 Last revised: 7 Feb 2023

See all articles by Claudio Novelli

Claudio Novelli

University of Bologna- Department of Legal Studies; Centre for Digital Ethics (CEDE)

Mariarosaria Taddeo

University of Oxford - Oxford Internet Institute

Luciano Floridi

Yale University - Digital Ethics Center; University of Bologna- Department of Legal Studies

Date Written: August 3, 2022

Abstract

Accountability is a cornerstone of the governance of artificial intelligence (AI). However, it is often defined too imprecisely because its multifaceted nature and the sociotechnical structure of AI systems imply a variety of values, practices, and measures to which accountability in AI can refer. We address this lack of clarity by defining accountability in terms of answerability, identifying three conditions of possibility (authority recognition, interrogation, and limitation of power), and an architecture of seven features (context, range, agent, forum, standards, process, and implications). We analyse this architecture through four accountability goals (compliance, report, oversight, and enforcement). We argue that these goals are often complementary and that policy-makers emphasise or prioritise some over others depending on the proactive or reactive use of accountability and the missions of AI governance.

Keywords: AI, accountability, AI Act, governance, policy

Suggested Citation

Novelli, Claudio and Taddeo, Mariarosaria and Floridi, Luciano, Accountability in Artificial Intelligence: What It Is and How It Works (August 3, 2022). AI & Society: Journal of Knowledge, Culture and Communication - Springer https://doi.org/10.1007/s00146-023-01635-y , Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4180366 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4180366

Claudio Novelli (Contact Author)

University of Bologna- Department of Legal Studies ( email )

Via Zamboni 22
Bologna, Bo 40100
Italy

Centre for Digital Ethics (CEDE) ( email )

Via Zamboni 22
Bologna, Bologna
Italy

HOME PAGE: http://https://www.unibo.it/sitoweb/claudio.novelli

Mariarosaria Taddeo

University of Oxford - Oxford Internet Institute ( email )

1 St. Giles
University of Oxford
Oxford OX1 3PG Oxfordshire, Oxfordshire OX1 3JS
United Kingdom

Luciano Floridi

Yale University - Digital Ethics Center ( email )

85 Trumbull Street
New Haven, CT CT 06511
United States
2034326473 (Phone)

University of Bologna- Department of Legal Studies ( email )

Via Zamboni 22
Bologna, Bo 40100
Italy

HOME PAGE: http://www.unibo.it/sitoweb/luciano.floridi/en

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