Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to revolutionize industries, streamlining operations, enhancing decision-making, and driving innovation. However, with this transformation comes the responsibility to ensure AI is used ethically, securely, and transparently. At Makers365, we are committed to the responsible development and deployment of AI systems that align with industry best practices, regulatory requirements, and ethical considerations. Our AI framework is structured around the principles outlined in the NIST AI Risk Management Framework (NIST AI RMF) and the North Carolina State Government Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence Framework to ensure AI technologies foster trust, protect privacy, and deliver tangible benefits.
Complying with the North Carolina AI Framework
We have aligned our services with the North Carolina State Government Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence Framework. Our AI governance policies align with the guidelines on privacy, fairness, accountability, and risk management standards.
We adhere to the key principles outlined in the framework:
Human-Centered AI
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Requires human oversight to ensure AI benefits the public and does not negatively impact citizens' rights or services.
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Vector Store (Embeddings): Ensures AI responses are contextually relevant to the user's needs.
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Internal Monitoring Dashboard: Provides real-time tracking of AI interactions to ensure proper oversight.
Transparency & Explainability
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Notify individuals about AI use, explain its purpose, and provide information on how decisions are made.
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SHAP (Shapley Additive Explanations): Enhances explainability by showing how AI decisions are made.
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Fairlearn: Provides insights into fairness-related decisions and potential biases.
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Transparency Dashboard: Allows internal and external stakeholders to review AI performance metrics.
Security & Resiliency
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AI systems must undergo risk assessments, security reviews, and continuous monitoring to ensure safety.
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Microsoft Defender for Cloud: Conducts vulnerability scans to detect security threats.
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OWASP ZAP: Performs penetration testing to identify weaknesses in AI models.
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TextAttack Library: Evaluates model security by generating adversarial attacks.
Data Privacy & Governance
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AI must comply with privacy laws and adopt privacy-by-design principles to protect personal data.
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Redact-PII-Light: Automatically detects and redacts Personally Identifiable Information (PII).
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Transport Layer Security (TLS) 1.3: Encrypts data in transit to maintain confidentiality.
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AES-256 Encryption: Secures data at rest against unauthorized access.
Diversity, Non-Discrimination & Fairness
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AI should be developed with input from diverse communities and be free from discriminatory biases.
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Fairlearn: Analyzes demographic bias and ensures equal treatment across groups.
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Fairness Metrics (Equalized Odds Difference, Demographic Parity): Measures and corrects bias in AI decisions.
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SHAP Analysis: Helps detect bias in AI predictions by analyzing feature importance.
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Regular Bias Audits: Conducted using Fairlearn and other fairness evaluation tools.
Auditing & Accountability
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Agencies must track AI performance, conduct regular audits, and provide training for responsible AI use.
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Internal Monitoring Dashboard: Tracks AI behavior, escalation rates, and user interactions.
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Incident Response System: Detects and mitigates AI failures, security breaches, and compliance risks.
Workforce Empowerment
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AI should enhance public service operations while empowering government staff through training and best practices.
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Anonymous Feedback Collection Tools: Allows users and employees to provide input on AI decisions.
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Specialized Training for Developers: Ensures data scientists, engineers, and compliance officers understand AI governance frameworks.
Makers365’s AI Governance Strategy
Our AI governance framework aligns with the NIST AI RMF’s four key functions: Govern, Map, Measure, and Manage.
Govern: Establishing Policies and Accountability
Makers365 has implemented robust policies and accountability structures to oversee AI use. Our governance approach ensures compliance with legal requirements, ethical considerations, and internal guidelines. We maintain an AI Inventory to track all AI systems and conduct AI Risk Assessments to mitigate potential threats before deployment.
Map: Identifying AI Risks and Benefits
Before deploying AI solutions, we conduct a thorough mapping process to understand:
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The intended purpose and potential impact of AI systems.
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Legal and ethical considerations.
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How AI models interact with human decision-making.
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Risks related to third-party data and AI model dependencies.
Measure: Ensuring AI Performance and Trustworthiness
Makers365 uses quantifiable metrics to assess AI systems' reliability, fairness, and transparency. Our evaluation includes:
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Bias detection and mitigation strategies.
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Performance monitoring to ensure AI aligns with intended use.
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Security assessments to safeguard against cyber threats.
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Ongoing validation to ensure AI models remain accurate and effective.
Manage: Mitigating AI Risks and Ensuring Responsible Deployment
Risk management is an ongoing process at Makers365. We have implemented mechanisms to:
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Monitor AI models in real-time for emerging risks.
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Establish feedback loops with stakeholders to improve AI outcomes.
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Provide users with appeal mechanisms in case of adverse AI-driven decisions.
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Ensure seamless decommissioning or modification of AI systems that fail to meet ethical or regulatory standards.
Building a Future of Trustworthy AI
Makers365 is committed to fostering an AI-driven future that is ethical, transparent, and beneficial to all. By integrating the NIST AI RMF and the North Carolina Responsible AI Framework into our Responsible AI Framework, we ensure that our AI solutions align with industry best practices and meet the highest ethical and security standards. As AI continues to evolve, so will our approach—continuously adapting to emerging risks, technological advancements, and societal expectations.
Our commitment to responsible AI is not just about compliance; it’s about building trust. At Makers365, we believe that responsible AI is the foundation for sustainable innovation and long-term success.
Stay engaged with us as we continue to refine and enhance our AI governance framework. Together, we can shape an AI-powered future that is both transformative and responsible.