Artificial Intelligence Ethicists

The ideal AI ethicist has several years of experience in AI–related positions—such as AI auditor, AI software developer, or other technology positions—but entry-level positions are available to new college graduates.

To be successful in this career, you will need strong analytical, critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills. You will also need top-notch communication and interpersonal abilities in order to explain (both in writing and orally) AI ethics issues and solutions to various shareholders, including those who are not tech savvy. At a minimum, AI ethicists must understand the core principles of AI systems, algorithms, and machine learning, as well as have knowledge of the philosophical, sociological, and psychological aspects of ethics. They also must be willing to stay up to date regarding emerging AI technology and understand the legal issues and regulatory laws (such as data privacy laws) pertaining to AI use and have knowledge of AI ethics frameworks. For some positions, proficiency—or at least a basic understanding of—programming languages (such as R, Python, and SQL) may be required.