‘Overlooked’ AI-adjacent issues may be key in regulation: Deloitte

Only 11% were focused on regulating issues, such as data privacy, cybersecurity, and intellectual property. 

Policy-makers may be “overlooking” proposals addressing issues adjacent to artificial intelligence (AI) that could be important in regulation, Deloitte Insights reported. 

In analysing more than 1,600 AI policies, ranging from regulations to national strategy, Deloitte found that only 11% were focused on regulating issues, such as data privacy, cybersecurity, and intellectual property. 

When limiting the search to only regulations, it was revealed that 60% were focused on AI and only 40% were intended for AI-adjacent issues. 

“Several countries have data protection agencies with regulatory powers to help protect citizens’ data privacy. But while these agencies may not have AI or machine learning named specifically in their charters, the importance of data in training and using AI models makes them an important AI-adjacent tool,” the report read in part.

This can be “problematic,” according to Deloitte, as it is difficult to regulate a fast-moving technology as approaches can instantly become outdated once new methods of training AI models emerge.

“Rather than trying to find a set of rules that can make AI models deliver the right outcomes in all circumstances, our data suggests regulators should focus on incentivizing those desired outcomes.”