Professional Practice in

Artificial Systems

Dr. Mahmoud Elsabagh

 Contents
1. Introduction to Practice Management

Chapter 1: Overview of Practice Management

1.Importance of practice management in architecture and landscape architecture.

2.Key roles and responsibilities in practice management.

Chapter 2: Ethical Practices in Artificial Systems

1.Codes of ethics in architecture and landscape architecture.

2.Real-world ethical dilemmas and their resolutions.

Chapter 3: Financial Management in Practices

1.Basics of financial statements (income statements, balance sheets).

2.Budgeting, cash flow analysis, and profitability planning.

3.Tools for managing finances in small and large practices.

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Chapter 4: Legal Requirements and Risk Management

1.Laws governing architectural and landscape practices.

2.Liability and insurance in professional services.

3.Case studies on risk management.

Chapter 5: Personal Career Planning

1.Strategies for career growth.

2.Professional memberships and certifications (e.g., RIBA, ASLA).

3.Setting short-term and long-term career goals.

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2. Project Management in Artificial Systems

Chapter 6: Project Lifecycle and Stages

1.Overview of project stages: initiation, planning, execution, monitoring, and closure.

2.Key deliverables at each stage.

Chapter 7: Procurement Strategies and Feasibility

1.Procurement methods: traditional, design-build, and integrated project delivery.

2.Feasibility studies and risk assessments.

Chapter 8: Statutory Requirements and Compliance

1.Planning permissions and environmental regulations.

2.Accessibility and sustainability requirements.

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Chapter 9: Time and Cost Management

1.Tools for scheduling (e.g., Gantt charts, Critical Path Method).

2.Cost control methods and budget adherence.

Chapter 10: Quality Assurance in Projects

1.Defining and measuring quality in architectural projects.

2.Quality assurance frameworks and tools.

Chapter 11: Contracts and Contract Administration

1.Types of contracts in private and public sectors.

2.Key clauses in architectural contracts.

3.Contract administration best practices.

Chapter 2: Ethical Practices in Artificial Systems

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By the end of this lecture, students will:

1. Understand the significance of ethics in artificial systems.

2. Identify key ethical issues in AI development and deployment.

3. Explore frameworks and guidelines for ethical AI.

4. Analyze real-world examples of ethical dilemmas in AI systems.

5. Discuss approaches to ensuring accountability and fairness in artificial systems.

I. What are Ethical Practices in AI?

➜ Definition: Ethical practices in AI refer to principles and standards that guide the
design, development, and implementation of artificial systems to ensure they align
with societal values and norms.
➜ Scope:
○ - Fairness: Avoiding bias and discrimination.
○ - Transparency: Providing clear and understandable explanations of AI decisions.
○ - Accountability: Ensuring systems can be held responsible for their outcomes.
○ - Privacy: Protecting user data and preventing misuse.
○ - Safety: Ensuring AI systems operate without causing harm.
○ - Inclusivity: Designing systems that consider diverse populations and needs.
II. Importance of Ethics in Artificial Systems

➜ Building Trust
○ - Users are more likely to adopt AI systems they perceive as ethical.
○ - Ethical AI promotes societal acceptance and reduces resistance.

➜ Preventing Harm
○ - Ethical practices help avoid unintended consequences like privacy violations,
bias, or harm.
○ - Examples: Facial recognition misuse or biased hiring algorithms.

➜ Ensuring Legal Compliance

○ - Aligning with laws such as GDPR or AI Act regulations.
○ - Avoiding lawsuits and penalties associated with unethical AI practices.
II. Importance of Ethics in Artificial Systems

➜ Promoting Innovation
○ - Ethical considerations encourage responsible innovation that benefits society.
○ - Prevents stifling progress due to public backlash or regulatory restrictions.

➜ Safeguarding Human Rights

○ - Ensures AI systems respect fundamental human rights, such as freedom of
expression, privacy, and non-discrimination.
III. Key Ethical Issues in Artificial Systems
➜ Bias and Discrimination
○ - AI systems trained on biased data may perpetuate or amplify existing
inequalities.
○ - Example: A hiring algorithm favoring certain demographics due to biased
historical data.
○ - Case Study: Gender bias in resume screening tools.
○ - Mitigation: Diverse training datasets, fairness audits, and bias detection tools.

➜ Lack of Transparency
○ - "Black box" systems make decisions without clear explanations.
○ - Challenges: Users and regulators may struggle to understand or trust these
systems.
○ - Case Study: Predictive policing algorithms and their lack of accountability.
III. Key Ethical Issues in Artificial Systems
➜ Privacy Concerns
○ - Data collection without proper consent or safeguards.
○ - Example: Unauthorized sharing of user data by AI-driven apps.
○ - Strategies: Encryption, anonymization, and compliance with privacy
regulations like GDPR.

➜ Accountability Gaps
○ - Difficulty in determining who is responsible for AI decisions.
○ - Example: Autonomous vehicle accidents.
○ - Solution: Clear legal frameworks for assigning responsibility.
III. Key Ethical Issues in Artificial Systems
➜ Misuse and Malicious Applications
○ - Potential for AI systems to be exploited for harmful purposes, such as
deepfakes or cyberattacks.
○ - Example: Deepfake technology used for misinformation campaigns.
○ - Solution: Regulations and AI tools to detect and counter misuse.

➜ Safety Risks
○ - AI systems operating in critical domains (e.g., healthcare, aviation) must
prioritize safety.
○ - Example: Errors in AI medical diagnosis tools causing harm to patients.
○ - Mitigation: Rigorous testing and fail-safe mechanisms.
IV. Frameworks and Guidelines for Ethical AI

➜ Ethical Principles
○ - Beneficence: AI should benefit individuals and society.
○ - Non-Maleficence: Avoid causing harm through AI systems.
○ - Autonomy: Respect user freedom and decision-making.
○ - Justice: Ensure fairness and equitable treatment.
○ - Sustainability: Promote long-term societal and environmental well-being.
IV. Frameworks and Guidelines for Ethical AI

➜ Global Standards and Guidelines

○ - EU Ethical Guidelines for AI
■ - Focus on human-centric AI.
■ - Emphasis on accountability, transparency, and robustness.
○ - IEEE Global Initiative on Ethics of Autonomous and Intelligent Systems
■ - Provides standards for ethical AI development.
○ - UNESCO AI Ethics Recommendations
■ - Encourages international cooperation in ethical AI practices.
○ - OECD AI Principles
■ - Promotes AI systems that are inclusive, sustainable, and human-centered.
IV. Frameworks and Guidelines for Ethical AI

➜ AI Ethics Boards
○ - Organizations form dedicated committees to oversee ethical compliance in AI
projects.
○ - Example: Google’s AI ethics board and controversies surrounding its
disbandment.

➜ Ethical AI Tools
○ - AI Fairness 360: Detects and mitigates bias.
○ - Explainable AI (XAI): Improves transparency by making AI decisions
interpretable.
V. Strategies for Implementing Ethical AI

➜ Bias Mitigation
○ - Diverse datasets: Ensuring training data represents all demographics.
○ - Regular audits: Assessing algorithms for potential biases.
○ - Algorithmic adjustments: Designing models to detect and correct for bias.

➜ Transparency Mechanisms
○ - Explainable AI (XAI): Designing models that provide clear justifications for
decisions.
○ - Open-source initiatives: Sharing code for public review.
○ - Example: AI systems used in credit scoring providing reason codes for
decisions.
 V. Strategies for Implementing Ethical AI

➜ Accountability Frameworks
○ - Clear assignment of responsibilities across stakeholders.
○ - Use of AI impact assessments to evaluate risks.
○ - Implementation of robust audit trails for decision-making processes.

➜ Privacy Enhancements
○ - Anonymization of user data.
○ - Adopting privacy-preserving computation techniques like differential privacy.
○ - User control: Allowing individuals to manage their data preferences.

➜ Stakeholder Collaboration
○ - Involving ethicists, social scientists, and diverse communities in AI development.
○ - Regular feedback loops to address ethical concerns throughout the project lifecycle.
 VI. Case Studies in Ethical AI

➜ Success Stories
○ - AI for Good Initiatives: AI used for disaster response and climate change prediction.
■ - Example: AI models assisting in resource distribution during natural disasters.
○ - COVID-19 Tracking: Ethical use of AI to model and predict virus spread without
compromising user privacy.

➜ Failures in Ethical Practices

○ - COMPAS Recidivism Tool: Criticized for racial bias in predicting criminal
behavior.
○ - Facial Recognition Misuse: False arrests due to errors in facial recognition software.
○ - Cambridge Analytica Scandal: Breach of privacy for political manipulation.
 VI. Case Studies in Ethical AI

➜ Lessons Learned
○ - Importance of rigorous testing and stakeholder input.
○ - Continuous monitoring and updating of systems.
VII. Interactive Activities

➜ Group Discussion
○ - Topic: "Should AI systems be allowed to make life-altering decisions? Why or
why not?"
○ - Deliverable: Groups present pros and cons with ethical justifications.

➜ Case Study Analysis

○ - Scenario: Analyze a real-world AI failure and propose ethical safeguards to
prevent recurrence.
○ - Deliverable: Written analysis and group presentation.
VII. Interactive Activities

➜ Role-Playing Exercise
○ - Roles: Developer, Ethics Officer, and User.
○ - Task: Debate the implementation of an AI system with potential privacy
concerns.

➜ Ethical Policy Drafting

○ - Task: Draft a basic ethical policy for a hypothetical AI company.
○ - Include principles, guidelines, and enforcement mechanisms.
VIII. Conclusion
➜ Summary of Key Points:
○ - Ethics is central to the responsible development and deployment of AI systems.
○ - Key issues include bias, transparency, privacy, and accountability.
○ - Frameworks and guidelines provide a foundation for ethical practices.
○ - Real-world examples highlight the importance of continuous vigilance and
improvement.

➜ Future Perspective:
○ - As AI systems grow more complex, ethical considerations will become
increasingly vital.
○ - Continuous collaboration between technologists, policymakers, and society is
essential.
Thanks!
Any questions?

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