Big Tech Companies Impact on Research at the Faculty of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering

Big Tech companies significantly shape AI ethics research: The paper notes that "many influencing ethical-AI researchers have roots in Big Tech or its associated labs," meaning the companies developing AI systems are also heavily influencing the academic research that's supposed to evaluate their ethics and safety.

Public trust depends on corporate transparency claims: Companies publicly assert their AI systems are "transparent, fair, and in accordance with existing laws and regulations," but the paper suggests these claims directly impact public perception and trust—raising questions about whether independent verification exists.

Business incentives may conflict with ethical standards: The paper indicates that AI ethics methods "challenge the capabilities of the companies towards business strategies in different regions," suggesting that ethical practices and profit motives may not always align, potentially creating pressure to prioritize business goals.

AI ethics challenges are growing with the technology: The pandemic has accelerated AI adoption across health and education sectors, but "with the growth in technology, challenges associated with ethics also grow," meaning ethical concerns are expanding faster than solutions to address them.

Talent attraction is tied to ethics reputation: The paper suggests that how companies handle AI ethics affects "the kind of brains it can attract for their projects," meaning researchers and engineers may choose employers based on their ethical practices and public commitments.