At Beanstack, our primary goal is to foster a vibrant reading culture through innovative methods such as competition, recognition, and gamification. As a forward-thinking company dedicated to enhancing the reading experience, we recognize the potential role of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Our commitment to supporting communities in building a strong reading culture requires us to continually seek out ways to effectively enrich and improve the lives of educators, librarians and students. Although we do not currently use AI within our product, we are committed to proactively establishing ethical guidelines to ensure that any future integration of AI aligns with our core values of love, inclusion, and awesomeness.
Scope
This AI Ethics Statement applies to the potential use of AI technologies within Beanstack’s platform and the operation of our business. It encompasses any AI-driven features or tools that may be developed or integrated into our platform, services, or business operations.
Key Ethical Principles
Our AI Ethics Statement is built upon the following foundational principles:
- Equitable, Human-Centered Approach
- Transparency
- Privacy & Safety
- Accountability
Ethical Principles
Equitable, Human-Centered Approach: We will commit to designing AI systems that are inclusive and fair. This means rigorously testing for potential biases, mitigating any discriminatory impacts, and centering our practices around equity and inclusion. We are committed to ensure that AI internal tools and product features are not designed to replace librarians, educators, or any Beanstack team members. All team members may use AI to add to their productivity and positivity while maintaining ultimate responsibility and accountability.
Transparency: We will ensure that our AI systems are transparent. This includes providing users with straightforward explanations about how AI technologies work and how their data is used.
Privacy & Safety: We will implement robust data protection measures to ensure the privacy of user information. Any AI system will comply with data protection laws. We will design AI systems with safety in mind, implementing rigorous security measures to protect users and prevent misuse.
Accountability: We will oversee AI systems and establish procedures for addressing ethical concerns or issues. Users will have mechanisms to report problems or provide feedback.
Guidance for Implementation
We commit to the following guidelines when implementing any usage of AI in our product or business operations:
- Planning: As we consider the integration of AI, we will plan carefully to ensure that future implementations adhere to our ethical principles.
- Development: We will incorporate ethical reviews into the development process, ensuring that AI technologies are designed and tested with fairness, transparency, and privacy in mind.
- Data Practices: We will establish policies for data management and usage that align with best practices for privacy and security. This will include clear communication to users about data collection and usage.
- User Communication: We will prepare to communicate clearly with users about how AI technologies will enhance their experience and provide transparency about their operation.
Review Process
Pre-Implementation Review: Before deploying any AI technologies, we will conduct thorough reviews to assess compliance with our ethical standards and identify potential impacts.
Ongoing Monitoring: Once implemented, AI systems will be continuously monitored to ensure they adhere to our ethical principles and to address any emerging issues.
Updates and Improvements: We will regularly review and update our AI Ethics Statement to reflect technological advancements, regulatory changes, and evolving best practices.
Enforce the Statement
Reporting Mechanisms: We will establish clear channels for reporting ethical issues or concerns related to AI systems, ensuring that these reports are investigated and resolved promptly.