Best Practices for Ethical AI
These principles can guide you as you design, build, deploy, and evaluate AI systems with integrity and community in mind.
Mission-Aligned Design
- Define a clear purpose for your AI system that supports human well-being.
- Make sure your AI adds value without undermining your core mission.
- Say no to AI where it causes more harm than good — ethical AI includes non-use.
Fairness & Inclusion
- Ensure datasets represent diverse populations — across race, gender, ability, geography, and class.
- Continuously test for bias and mitigate disparate outcomes.
- Involve communities impacted by your tech in every phase of development.
Transparency & Communication
- Document and disclose what your AI system does and how it works.
- Use plain language — make your model explainable to everyone, not just engineers.
- Let users know when they're interacting with AI and how decisions are made.
Data Stewardship
- Collect only the data you need — and with full, informed consent.
- Respect people's right to opt out, delete their data, or understand how it's used.
- Secure your data with strong encryption, access controls, and deletion policies.
Accountability & Governance
- Appoint specific people or teams responsible for AI system outcomes.
- Create pathways for users to report harm, bias, or mistakes — and respond quickly.
- Regularly audit your AI tools and retrain or retire them when needed.
Environmental Responsibility
- Track the energy and carbon footprint of your AI training and deployment.
- Use efficient models and sustainable cloud providers.
- Weigh environmental cost before scaling large systems.
Ongoing Learning & Community
- Train your team in ethical reasoning, not just technical skills.
- Host internal ethics check-ins, reflection sessions, or fire drills.
- Stay connected to public conversations, watchdog groups, and impacted voices.
Getting Started
- Use an Ethics Assessment to identify risks and gaps.
- Explore the Resource Library to support ethical implementation.
- Customize the Ethics Policy Template for your team or org.