AI ethics practices in Swiss health organisations

Abstract

Despite the rise in the development and use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the application of ethics to this new technology remains relatively nascent. This study investigates the implementation of AI ethics within health companies in Switzerland, their challenges and facilitating factors. A cross-sectional survey, with a 15% response rate (N = 28), was employed, targeting professionals in the private sector. The findings revealed a notable disparity between the claimed behaviours and the observed improvements, as well as in the formalisation of governance for AI ethics. The results find different practices between startups, small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and large multinational corporations (MNCs). Challenges were identified in the lack of standards, implementation guides, and ethical knowledge. The discussion addresses systemic issues, including governance and lack of ethical knowledge, as well as organisational factors such as company size and role. The paper concludes with institutional and organisational recommendations to develop clear regulatory standards, adopt proactive measures, and provide comprehensive AI ethics training and resources to support the ethical implementation of AI in Swiss health organisations.