What should an AI impact assessment cover when buying AI?

Answered

Start the impact assessment at design stage and revisit it at key decisions. Cover user needs and public benefit, socio-economic impacts, technical/process consequences, data quality and bias, unintended consequences, and whole-of-life costs — and state public benefit as a main driver in procurement documentation.

From the guidance

Primary (how) Guidelines for AI procurement

Your AI impact assessment should be initiated at the project design stage. Your AI impact assessment should outline: Your user needs and the public benefit of your AI system; Human and socio-economic impacts of your AI system; Consequences for your existing technical and procedural landscape; Data quality and any potential inaccuracy or bias; Any potential unintended consequences; Whole-of-life cost considerations, including ongoing support and maintenance requirements.

Section: AI Impact assessment

Read this in Guidelines for AI procurement (opens in new tab)

Secondary (normative) Guidelines for AI procurement

Explain in your procurement documentation that the public benefit is a main driver of your decision-making process when assessing proposals. Set out clearly in your procurement documentation why you consider AI to be relevant to the problem, and be open to alternative solutions.

Section: 4. Assess the benefits and risks of AI deployment

Read this in Guidelines for AI procurement (opens in new tab)

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