(WIP) Hazard idea: Inaccessibility

[NatalieZelenka]

Label image:

No access sign (crossed out hand)

Description:

People who need to access useful data science/AI may not be able to due to the tools being costly, having restrictive licensing terms, or needing specialist knowledge to use them. This can impact the creators of tools which use AI as well as potential end users.

Examples:

• Generative AI tools (e.g. ChatGPT, Gemini, etc) are often behind a pay wall and have license terms such as "cannot create a tool which competes with ". This prevents researchers from being able to create potentially life-saving tools which use generative AI.
• If an AI tool is only available in one language, it would not be accessible to researchers or users in another language.

Possible relationships with other (potential) hazards:

• Inaccessibility --results in--> difficult to understand: making a tool available to fewer people means the majority will not have the opportunity to interrogate it and understand how it works.
• difficult to use --results in--> Inaccessibility: If a tool is difficult to use or requires specialist knowledge, this can be one barrier to entry.
• Inaccessibility --results in--> risk of harm: If a tool is useful in reducing harm, a lack of access to it can be harmful.
• Closed source --results in--> Inaccessibility: WIP
• Expensive -- results in --> Inaccessibility: WIP

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Note: this issue was inspired by a more specific suggestion over email to Natalie (Bristol email). Will need to check there to see if I can add better contribution/credit information - waiting for a reply.

• Add @bionicles as a contributor