Algorithmic impact assessment (AIA)
An algorithmic impact assessment is a structured review, done before an AI system is used, of who it could affect, how it could go wrong and what safeguards are needed. The Government of Canada publishes an AIA questionnaire that its departments must complete for automated decision systems.
In one line, for a 12-year-old
An impact assessment is thinking hard about who might get hurt before you switch an AI on.
An example
Before using AI to sort immigration applications, a department rates the system's impact level and adds human review for higher-risk cases.
Why it matters to people
Published assessments let the public and journalists see how AI is used on them. Ask your provincial and municipal governments whether they do the same.