JSAI Ethical Guidelines 2017: The Nine Principles of Responsible AI

Artificial intelligence is transforming how people work, communicate, make decisions, and interact with technology. From healthcare and education to finance and transportation, AI systems are becoming increasingly influential in everyday life. However, as these technologies become more powerful, an important question arises: How can artificial intelligence be developed and used responsibly without putting human rights, privacy, safety, and social welfare at risk?

The Japanese Society for Artificial Intelligence (JSAI) addressed this challenge by introducing its Ethical Guidelines in 2017. These guidelines established a professional ethical framework for AI researchers, highlighting their responsibilities toward humanity, society, and the responsible development of intelligent technologies.

The Japanese Society for Artificial Intelligence Ethical Guidelines 2017 remain an important reference for understanding the relationship between technological innovation and professional responsibility. They cover nine principles, including fairness, privacy protection, security, accountability, and the expectation that AI systems should follow ethical standards.

This guide explains the background, purpose, nine principles, practical applications, and continuing relevance of the 2017 guidelines in modern artificial intelligence.

What Are the Japanese Society for Artificial Intelligence Ethical Guidelines 2017?

The Japanese Society for Artificial Intelligence Ethical Guidelines 2017 are a set of professional ethical principles established by the Japanese Society for Artificial Intelligence to encourage responsible AI research and development.

The guidelines were approved by the JSAI Board of Directors on February 28, 2017, following discussions and consultations led by its Ethics Committee. An English version was subsequently published on May 3, 2017.

Their primary purpose is to establish a moral foundation for AI researchers, encourage awareness of professional responsibilities, and strengthen communication between artificial intelligence specialists and society.

Unlike legislation, these guidelines were not introduced as a government regulation or a legally enforceable AI compliance framework. They were designed primarily to guide JSAI members in making responsible professional decisions.

The guidelines also recognise that artificial intelligence can produce both positive and negative social consequences. Although AI can improve productivity, support scientific discoveries, and solve complex problems, its misuse may threaten privacy, increase discrimination, and create risks to human safety.

For this reason, JSAI emphasises that technological progress must be accompanied by ethical awareness and social responsibility.

Why Did Japan Introduce AI Ethical Guidelines in 2017?

Artificial intelligence research was advancing rapidly when JSAI developed its ethical framework. Researchers increasingly recognised that AI technologies could influence important areas of society, including healthcare, education, economics, politics, and government.

However, technical performance alone could not guarantee that these systems would benefit everyone.

For example, an AI recruitment system might process thousands of applications efficiently but still disadvantage certain applicants because of biased training data. Similarly, facial recognition technology could improve security while creating serious concerns about personal privacy and surveillance.

These challenges demonstrated the need for a professional framework that considered the wider consequences of AI development.

JSAI established its Ethics Committee in 2014 to examine the relationship between artificial intelligence and society. The committee developed an initial draft during the first half of 2016, discussed it at the society’s annual meeting, and invited public and expert feedback.

An updated version was prepared in December 2016 before receiving formal board approval in February 2017.

The guidelines were therefore developed through professional discussion rather than being introduced as a response to a single technological incident.

Their broader objective was to encourage AI researchers to listen to society, understand different perspectives, and develop technologies that contribute positively to humanity.

The Nine Principles of the Japanese Society for Artificial Intelligence Ethical Guidelines

The most important part of the 2017 framework is its nine principles. Each principle addresses a different responsibility that AI researchers should consider when designing, developing, and using artificial intelligence.

1. Contribution to Humanity

The first principle states that AI research should contribute to human peace, safety, welfare, and the public interest.

AI should improve people’s lives rather than create unnecessary risks or undermine fundamental human rights. Researchers should also respect cultural diversity and consider how their technologies affect different communities.

Practical example: An AI-powered healthcare system should help medical professionals identify potential health problems while prioritising patient safety, dignity, and well-being.

This principle establishes an important foundation: technological progress should serve humanity, not simply demonstrate what machines can achieve.

2. Abidance by Laws and Regulations

The second principle requires JSAI members to respect applicable laws, regulations, intellectual property rights, and contractual obligations.

AI researchers must not use information or property belonging to others unlawfully. They must also avoid developing or using AI with the intention of causing harm, whether directly or indirectly.

Practical example: A company developing an AI writing assistant should consider copyright restrictions, licensing requirements, and the lawful use of training materials.

Following this principle helps protect individuals, organisations, and the wider public from irresponsible technological practices.

3. Respect for the Privacy of Others

Privacy is a fundamental concern in artificial intelligence because many AI systems depend on collecting, processing, and analysing personal information.

The third principle requires researchers to respect people’s privacy and handle personal information appropriately in accordance with relevant laws and regulations.

Practical example: An AI application that analyses customer behaviour should collect only the information it legitimately needs and protect that information from unauthorised access.

Responsible data management includes considering consent, access controls, data retention, and the risks associated with sharing sensitive information.

Privacy protection should be considered from the beginning of a project rather than treated as an issue to address after development.

4. Fairness

The fourth principle focuses on fairness and recognises that artificial intelligence can introduce or increase inequality and discrimination.

AI systems learn patterns from data. If that data contains historical discrimination or does not adequately represent different groups, the resulting system may produce unfair outcomes.

Practical example: An AI recruitment tool trained mainly on historical applications from one demographic group might disadvantage equally qualified applicants from other backgrounds.

To follow this principle, researchers should examine training data, evaluate model performance across relevant groups, and investigate potentially discriminatory outcomes.

Fairness also means considering whether the benefits of AI technology are accessible to humanity in an equal and reasonable manner.

5. Security

The fifth principle highlights the importance of safety, controllability, and confidentiality in AI development and use.

Researchers must recognise their responsibility to keep AI systems safe and under appropriate control. They should also provide users with sufficient and accurate information about the technologies they use.

Practical example: An autonomous industrial robot should have appropriate safety controls, monitoring mechanisms, and emergency procedures to reduce the possibility of injury.

Security is not limited to preventing cyberattacks. It also involves anticipating system failures, managing operational risks, protecting confidential information, and ensuring that human operators understand the system’s limitations.

A reliable AI system should be designed with safety considerations throughout its development and deployment.

6. Act with Integrity

The sixth principle requires AI researchers to behave honestly and maintain the trust of society.

Because artificial intelligence can significantly influence people’s lives, researchers should avoid exaggerated claims, misleading explanations, and unsupported statements about their systems.

They must explain technical limitations and problems truthfully and in a scientifically sound manner.

Practical example: If an AI diagnostic tool has only been tested on a limited patient population, its developers should clearly communicate that limitation rather than suggesting that it works equally well for everyone.

Integrity also involves acknowledging uncertainty, reporting research results accurately, and correcting mistakes when they are discovered.

This principle reminds researchers that public trust depends on honesty, not simply technological achievements.

7. Accountability and Social Responsibility

The seventh principle addresses the responsibility of researchers to verify the performance and wider impact of the AI technologies they develop.

If potential dangers are identified, appropriate warnings should be communicated effectively to society. Researchers should also recognise that their work may be misused for harmful purposes, even when that was not their original intention.

The guidelines further emphasise that people who discover and report AI misuse should not suffer losses as a result of reporting it.

Practical example: If a research team discovers that its facial recognition technology produces significantly inaccurate results for certain demographic groups, it should investigate the problem and communicate the risk to relevant stakeholders.

Accountability does not end when an AI product is released. Developers should continue evaluating its performance, identifying unintended consequences, and taking reasonable steps to prevent misuse.

8. Communication with Society and Self-Development

The eighth principle recognises that AI researchers have a responsibility to improve public understanding of artificial intelligence.

Society includes people with different experiences, concerns, and expectations. Researchers should listen to these perspectives, learn from public feedback, and maintain effective communication with communities.

The principle also encourages continuous professional development and supporting others in improving their knowledge and skills.

Practical example: A university research team developing AI for public services could organise discussions with citizens, explain how the technology works, and consider concerns raised by people who may be affected by its decisions.

This approach helps reduce misunderstandings and encourages cooperation between technical experts and the wider community.

9. Abidance of Ethics Guidelines by AI

The ninth principle is one of the most distinctive features of the JSAI framework.

It states that AI must follow the policies described in the preceding principles in the same manner as JSAI members, in order to become a member or quasi-member of society.

This principle introduces an interesting idea: ethical expectations should not apply only to the people who develop artificial intelligence. They should also be reflected in the behaviour of the AI systems being created.

Practical example: An AI assistant designed to support public services should be developed to respect privacy, avoid discriminatory behaviour, operate safely, and support human welfare.

However, this principle should not be interpreted as granting AI systems legal personhood or making them independently responsible for their actions. Rather, it expresses the JSAI’s distinctive vision of how AI should behave if it is to become an integrated part of society.

The JSAI Ethics Committee specifically identified this ninth principle as a feature intended to encourage deeper discussion about the future relationship between AI and society.

How the 2017 JSAI Guidelines Apply to Modern Artificial Intelligence

Although the guidelines were introduced in 2017, their principles remain relevant to contemporary AI development, including generative AI, machine learning, robotics, and automated decision-making.

Their practical value becomes clearer when applied to common technological situations.

Generative AI and misinformation: The principles of integrity and accountability encourage developers to communicate system limitations, address harmful outputs, and reduce the risk of misleading information.

AI in healthcare: Contribution to humanity, privacy, security, and fairness are especially important when AI systems process medical information or assist with clinical decisions.

Automated recruitment: Fairness requires organisations to examine whether AI screening tools disadvantage applicants based on gender, ethnicity, disability, or other characteristics.

Facial recognition: Privacy, security, and legal compliance should guide how biometric information is collected, processed, stored, and used.

Autonomous robotics: Human safety, controllability, and accountability are essential when robots operate in workplaces, hospitals, public spaces, or homes.

These examples demonstrate that the JSAI framework is not simply a theoretical discussion about right and wrong. It provides a useful way to identify ethical risks and encourage responsible decisions throughout the AI lifecycle.

Why the Japanese Society for Artificial Intelligence Ethical Guidelines Still Matter in 2026

Artificial intelligence has changed considerably since 2017. Generative models can now produce text, images, audio, and software code, while automated systems increasingly influence decisions in business, education, healthcare, and public administration.

These developments have made questions about privacy, fairness, security, and accountability even more important.

The JSAI guidelines remain valuable for several reasons.

First, they place human welfare at the centre of AI research. Technical performance should not be the only measure of success. The broader social impact of a system also matters.

Second, they encourage responsible research practices. Researchers are reminded to follow the law, protect personal information, evaluate potential risks, and communicate technical limitations honestly.

Third, they recognise the importance of public participation. AI development should not happen in isolation from the people and communities affected by it.

Fourth, they encourage continuous ethical reflection. AI technology evolves, and responsible professionals must regularly reconsider how established ethical principles apply to new situations.

It is important, however, to understand the guidelines in their proper context. They are professional ethical guidance for JSAI members, not a complete regulatory framework for every AI developer or organisation worldwide.

Businesses and researchers should therefore consider them alongside applicable laws, technical standards, institutional policies, and other relevant AI governance frameworks.

Frequently Asked Questions About the JSAI Ethical Guidelines 2017

1. What is the main purpose of the Japanese Society for Artificial Intelligence Ethical Guidelines 2017?

The main purpose is to encourage responsible AI research and development by establishing professional ethical principles for JSAI members. The guidelines promote human welfare, privacy, fairness, security, accountability, and effective communication between researchers and society.

2. How many principles are included in the JSAI Ethical Guidelines?

The Japanese Society for Artificial Intelligence Ethical Guidelines contain nine principles. They cover contribution to humanity, legal compliance, privacy, fairness, security, integrity, accountability, communication and self-development, and ethical conduct by AI systems.

3. Are the JSAI Ethical Guidelines legally binding?

No. The 2017 guidelines are professional ethical guidance rather than government legislation. The JSAI Ethics Committee explained that they were intended to encourage discussion and professional responsibility, not to establish an immediate formal system for checking compliance with every research project.

4. Why is the ninth principle of the JSAI guidelines important?

The ninth principle is important because it extends ethical expectations to AI systems themselves. It suggests that AI should follow the same ethical policies expected of JSAI members if it is to become a member or quasi-member of society. It also encourages discussion about the future relationship between artificial intelligence and human communities.

5. Are the 2017 JSAI Ethical Guidelines still relevant to modern AI?

Yes. Their principles remain useful for evaluating ethical challenges involving generative AI, automated decision-making, robotics, privacy, discrimination, and cybersecurity. However, organisations should also consider newer laws, standards, and governance frameworks when developing or deploying AI systems.

Conclusion

The Japanese Society for Artificial Intelligence Ethical Guidelines 2017 established an important foundation for responsible artificial intelligence research. Their nine principles encourage researchers to prioritise humanity, respect legal requirements, protect privacy, promote fairness, maintain security, act with integrity, accept accountability, communicate with society, and ensure that AI systems reflect ethical expectations.

Their greatest contribution is the recognition that artificial intelligence should not be evaluated solely by its technical capabilities. Its impact on people, communities, and society is equally important.

As AI continues to develop in 2026 and beyond, these principles offer a valuable starting point for researchers, students, developers, and organisations seeking to understand responsible AI.

For a deeper understanding, consult the original JSAI Ethical Guidelines and explore how their principles can be incorporated into modern AI research, development, and governance practices.