Responsible AI Guidelines

“Responsible AI Guidelines: Operationalizing DoD’s Ethical Principles for AI
Defense Innovation Unit, March, 2020
Artificial Intelligence Portfolio
By Defense Innovation Unit

“DIU launched a strategic initiative in March 2020 to implement the DoD’s Ethical Principles for Artificial Intelligence (AI) into its commercial prototyping and acquisition programs. ”

About DIU’s Responsible AI Initiative

DIU launched a strategic initiative in March 2020 to implement the DoD’s Ethical Principles for Artificial Intelligence (AI) into its commercial prototyping and acquisition programs. For over a year, DIU explored methods for implementing these principles with DoD partners in several AI prototype projects that cover applications including, but not limited to, predictive health, underwater autonomy, predictive maintenance, and supply chain analysis. The result is a set of Responsible AI Guidelines that are informed by DIU’s practical experience, but also draw upon best practices from government, non-profit, academic, and industry partners.

DIU will continue collaborating with experts and stakeholders from government, industry, academia, and civil society to further develop the RAI Guidelines. To provide feedback on the RAI Guidelines or schedule a discussion on how to implement these guidelines in your department or agency, please feel free to email: responsibleai@diu.mil.

FedSuperNova Responsible AI

DIU and AI and machine learning stakeholders provide an overview of the Responsible AI Guidelines and how DIU applies them to real-world national security problems.

Responsible AI Guidelines in Practice

DIU’s RAI Guidelines aim to provide a clear, efficient process of inquiry for personnel involved in AI system development (e.g.: program managers, commercial vendors, or government partners) to achieve the following goals:

ensure that the DoD’s Ethical Principles for AI are integrated into the planning, development, and deployment phases of the technical lifecycle;

effectively examine, test, and validate that all programs and prototypes align with DoD’s Ethical Principles for AI; and,

leverage a process that is reliable, replicable, and scalable across a variety of programs.

DIU’s RAI Guidelines are presented in the form of detailed worksheets that instruct and guide AI vendors, DoD stakeholders, and DIU program managers on how to properly scope AI problem statements. They also provide detailed guidance on the considerations that each of these stakeholders should keep in mind as they proceed through each phase of AI system development.

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About the Author:

Defense Innovation Unit team members include active duty military, reservists, civilians, and contractors who bring extensive military and private sector experience to accelerate commercial technology for national security. Our leaders are invested in U.S. national security and represent the best talent from government and business. DIU is a proven catalyst for reinvigorating how the government and business work together. We’re not bound by traditional DoD silos, enabling us to work across Services, at the seams of our portfolios, and the overlap among technology areas — the intersection of space and cyber, health and AI, and more — where the real innovation takes place and where new thriving businesses can be created.