Motorola unveils 'AI nutrition labels' for safety technologies
Motorola Solutions has launched 'AI nutrition labels' aimed at providing greater transparency around the use of artificial intelligence in its safety and security products.
The new labelling system will outline how artificial intelligence is deployed in each product, detailing the type of AI used, the ownership of the data processed, available human controls, and the intended purpose behind the technology's application.
The company stated that this approach marks the first time such labels have been made available for public safety and enterprise security technologies, allowing users to better understand the 'ingredients' of each AI-enabled solution in a manner that draws comparison to food nutrition labelling.
Mahesh Saptharishi, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at Motorola Solutions, emphasised the importance of clarity and transparency in the deployment of AI technologies in the context of safety and security.
"It is our unwavering conviction that technology - including AI - is the bedrock for safety and security, and it must be deployed with purpose and transparency to fulfil its promise as a force for good," said Saptharishi.
"Nutrition labels help describe AI's use in protecting neighbourhoods and nations, and we are proud to take a lead role in bringing greater transparency to AI innovation."
The AI nutrition labels are designed to provide a summary of four core attributes relevant to users of these technologies: the particular type of AI employed, the party responsible for data ownership, the available mechanisms for human oversight, and the specific reason for integrating AI within a given product.
AI capabilities have become increasingly integral to Motorola Solutions' safety and security portfolio.
The company describes its AI as designed to assist users by providing accurate and timely information, supporting personnel in understanding unfolding events and prioritising their responses when confronted by complex safety threats.
Saptharishi elaborated on the challenges faced by individuals charged with public safety, and how AI can augment their efforts, particularly in high-pressure scenarios.
"Safety threats often unfold at a scale, speed and sophistication that can outstrip any one person's capacity to make sense of the situation," said Saptharishi. "AI can ingest, learn and cross-reference data to provide contextual understanding. At Motorola Solutions, we design our AI-enabled technologies to augment human focus, effort and performance when seconds matter most. Our AI nutrition labels will bring added clarity to the important role AI is playing in helping to protect people, property and places."
Motorola Solutions confirmed the labels have been developed under the guidance of its Technology Advisory Committee, a cross-functional group tasked with providing ethical oversight and guidance regarding the design and implementation of new product technologies.
The company positions the initiative as part of its ongoing commitment to support safer communities, educational institutions, and workplaces, by ensuring users and stakeholders can access straightforward information about the underpinning AI technologies and the safeguards in place.
The company's announcement comes as the deployment of AI in public safety settings draws increased scrutiny from stakeholders, policy-makers, and the broader public, particularly regarding issues of privacy, human oversight and ethical boundaries.
Motorola Solutions said the AI nutrition labels will now feature across its ecosystem of safety and security technologies, reflecting a shift towards increased transparency and engagement with the ethical aspects of AI deployment in critical environments.
