ETHICS AND SOCIETAL IMPACT

PRIVACY AND CONSENT Many agents handle personal information, which is any detail that can be tied to a particular person, such as a name, an address, or a work history. Collect only what the task needs, keep it only as long as it is needed, and protect it while you hold it. The Resume Review Agent in your lab uses made-up resumes for exactly this reason. In real use, a resume holds private details, and the person who wrote it may not expect a machine to score it. Ask whether people were told and whether they had a real choice. When laws apply, such as privacy and data protection laws, follow them, and ask a qualified professional when you are unsure, because this book cannot give legal advice. SAFETY, MISUSE, AND DUAL USE Almost every capability can be used for good or for harm. A tool that sends messages helps a support team and could also help a scammer. This is called dual use, meaning the same ability can serve either purpose. You cannot remove all risk, but you can reduce it with sensible limits. Limit what the agent can do without a human check, log what it does, and refuse requests that clearly aim at harm. Plan for the failures you cannot prevent by making them small, visible, and reversible.