AI risks and incidents

The OECD's principle of "responsibility" for artificial intelligence stipulates that those who deploy AI must be accountable for the proper functioning of their systems.

The OECD has developed the first internationally agreed, government-backed Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible AI. Backed by all the OECD’s Member countries, plus 17 partner governments and the EU, this guidance helps enterprises navigate the complex terrain of AI risk management. It is designed to help businesses ensure that the AI systems they develop are trustworthy, used and developed safely and responsibly, and aligned with broad societal values.

The OECD also offers a Catalogue of Tools and Metrics to help actors ensure AI is developed and used responsibly.

As AI adoption continues to grow, successful risk mitigation will require a solid evidence base. The OECD's AI Incidents Monitor (AIM) documents AI incidents and hazards to provide better evidence to policymakers, practitioners and other stakeholders on AI risks and the context in which they materialise. Over time, AIM will help to identify any risk patterns and establish a collective understanding of AI incidents and their multifaceted nature.

As Artificial Intelligence continues to permeate societies and economies, it is inevitable for AI incidents to increase, making it vital to monitor and address risks.  As AI knows no borders, stakeholders need a rigorous and transnational understanding of AI incidents and a consistent, interoperable way to report them. 

As jurisdictions worldwide prepare to implement mandatory and voluntary incident reporting schemes, the OECD is working on a common reporting framework to help align terminology across jurisdictions, optimise interoperability, and minimise AI incidents, risks and hazards. 

OECD evidence shows that if AI is not used in a trustworthy way, then there are significant risks to the rights and safety of workers, such as the privacy of their data, increased work intensity, bias and discrimination, and accountability. There are also risks of automation and increasing inequalities in the workplace. To help assess and mitigate these risks, the OECD is mapping risks and policy actions, and preparing a roadmap to address policy gaps.