Societal Impact Assessment
A structured evaluation of how an AI system affects social, economic, and cultural aspects of communities, identifying potential harms and benefits.
Definition
Similar to environmental-impact studies, it examines downstream effects—job displacement, economic inequality, cultural biases, public trust—by consulting stakeholders, modeling scenarios, and reviewing analogous deployments. The assessment produces mitigation plans for identified harms (retraining programs, public education) and tracks long-term outcomes. Governance requires publishing summary findings and integrating them into strategic decision-making.
Real-World Example
A national employment agency conducts a Societal Impact Assessment before launching its automated job-matching AI. They analyze potential effects on minority workers, forecast shifts in job-market dynamics, and develop reskilling programs to mitigate displacement—publishing the assessment to inform public debate.
.svg)
