Ethics-by-Design Concept (Module A.3)
ModulesEthics-by-Design Concept (Module A.3)
This module introduces the ethics foundations of artificial intelligence (AI) within European policy frameworks. It covers the definition of an AI system according to the EU AI Act, along with core AI concepts and techniques.
It further explores the ethics-by-design approach, showing how ethics principles can be embedded throughout the AI lifecycle. The module also presents the requirements for trustworthy AI as defined by the High-Level Expert Group on AI and introduces the ALTAI framework as a practical self-assessment tool.
Overall, this module equips learners with the essential prerequisite knowledge to understand AI fundamentals and serves as an introductory module to the course.
Learning Goals
- Explain the ethics-by-design approach
Ethics-by-design Concept
When AI systems interact with human users, they directly influence cognition, decision-making, and behavior, shaping societal values, rights, and ethical norms. Ethics-by-Design is an approach that embeds ethical considerations into AI systems proactively from the very start of design and development, rather than attempting to rectify flaws post-deployment. Based on the European Commission's High-Level Expert Group guidelines for trustworthy AI, this methodology relies on seven core requirements: human agency and oversight, technical robustness and safety, privacy and data governance, transparency, diversity, non-discrimination and fairness, societal and environmental wellbeing, and accountability. Implementation spans three crucial layers—the Data Layer, Model Layer, and Deployment Layer. Failure to integrate ethical controls throughout these layers has led to severe real-world harms, including systemic algorithmic discrimination in hiring, risk assessment, healthcare allocation, and social benefit delivery. Consequently, Ethics-by-Design serves as a vital operational mechanism for complying with mandatory regulatory frameworks such as the EU AI Act (2024) and align with guidance like the ALTAI framework to ensure trustworthy AI.
