The profound ethical challenges raised by generative AI systems, particularly the risks of mass misinformation, algorithmic bias, and the erosion of human skills, demand robust governance. For a rapidly developing, multi-ethnic, and linguistically diverse country like Nepal, the establishment of well-functioning AI Ethics Boards in all institutions (government bodies, universities, hospitals, and private companies) is not merely an optional best practice—it is a foundational necessity for responsible innovation.
1. Contextualizing Ethics for the Global South
Globally, the AI ethics discourse is often dominated by the values and perspectives of the Global North, where the technology originates. AI Ethics Boards in Nepal are crucial to prevent the passive adoption of systems that Reinforce Local Bias modeling trained on global data can exhibit cultural and social biases that are irrelevant or even harmful when deployed in the Nepali context, potentially marginalizing ethnic, linguistic, or regional groups. They must ensure that AI applications in key sectors like agriculture, healthcare, and education align with Nepali values, legal frameworks, and cultural norms, rather than imposing foreign standards. Boards are vital for scrutinizing how data—especially sensitive health or demographic information—is collected, used, and stored, protecting the privacy of Nepali citizens and the nation's data assets.
2. Safeguarding Against AI Harms and Job Displacement
As generative AI is integrated into the economy, ethics boards provide a critical check on systemic risks. Given Nepal's reliance on digital and social media, these boards can establish guidelines for mandatory labeling of AI-generated content (text, images, deepfakes) to maintain authenticity and public trust, especially concerning national security or political discourse. Nepal's significant digital literacy and infrastructure divide risks concentrating AI's benefits among the urban and connected elite. Ethics boards must advocate for inclusive design principles that ensure AI solutions are accessible and beneficial to rural and marginalized communities. Responsible De-skilling is essential while outsourcing tasks to AI has benefits, boards in institutions like banks or civil service must evaluate AI's deployment to prevent the catastrophic loss of critical human skills (e.g., essential judgment in medicine or law) and mitigate job displacement by recommending robust upskilling and reskilling programs. Promoting Transparency and Accountability is essential. The core of the ethical challenge is the opacity of AI systems. Well-functioning boards are the institutional mechanism for demanding transparency. Boards should be establishing Accountability ensuring that when an AI system causes harm (e.g., misdiagnosis in a hospital, discriminatory loan rejection etc ), there is a clear line of accountability—not simply blaming the "computer."
Composition of the Ethics Boards:
· Multi-Disciplinary & Multi-Stakeholder: The boards must not be composed solely of technologists. They should include:
· Ethicists/Social Scientists: To grapple with philosophical and societal implications.
· Legal Experts: To ensure compliance with Nepali law and anticipate regulatory gaps.
· Community Representatives & Indigenous Knowledge Holders: To ensure the voices of marginalized groups (Janajatis, Madhesis, Dalits, etc.) are directly represented, especially for projects affecting their communities.
· Linguists: To address the challenges and opportunities of Nepal's linguistic diversity in Large
Language Models (LLMs).
While the focus is on safeguarding, it's important to frame these boards as enablers of responsible innovation. By building public trust in AI, they create a safer environment for entrepreneurs and researchers to experiment and deploy solutions. They can certify "Ethically Approved" AI systems, giving them a competitive and trustworthy brand.
• They should enforce Guidelines and are responsible for auditing AI systems against national ethical guidelines (such as those outlined in the National AI Policy) to ensure fairness, security, and human rights protection before, during, and after deployment.
In summary, for Nepal to effectively harness the transformative benefits of AI while mitigating its significant risks, AI Ethics Boards must serve as the local, multi-stakeholder conscience—a formal structure to contextualize, govern, and audit AI's power to ensure it serves the vision of a "prosperous, inclusive, and ethical Nepal." AI Ethics Boards are a "foundational necessity."