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Artificial intelligence and machine learning

Artificial intelligence and machine learning develop algorithms that learn patterns from data to classify, predict or generate outputs. They are increasingly used for hazard detection, forecasting and decision support, and are themselves a source of risk. Artificial Intelligence and Autonomous Systems stewards this page for the Nexus Consortium.

02The method

What artificial intelligence and machine learning covers.

  1. 01

    Core methods

    supervised learning; deep neural networks; reinforcement learning; representation learning; probabilistic modelling; model interpretation.

  2. 02

    Data and instruments

    labelled training datasets; sensor and image archives; text corpora; simulation outputs; benchmark suites.

  3. 03

    Validation

    Models are evaluated on held-out data that respects spatial, temporal and group structure. Robustness, calibration and fairness are tested alongside accuracy.

  4. 04

    Limits

    Performance degrades when deployment conditions differ from training data. Models can encode biases and fail without clear warning on rare events.

  5. 05

    Use in risk decisions

    Machine learning can scale detection and forecasting across interconnected systems. Its own failure modes must be weighed when automated outputs inform consequential decisions.

03Reference practice

Machine learning in risk work is governed by AI risk frameworks and reporting standards.

ReferenceWhat it sets
NIST AI RMFRisk management functions for AI systems
ISO/IEC 42001AI management systems
TRIPOD (EQUATOR)Reporting of prediction models, including machine-learning extensions
04In systemic risk work

Fast emulators, fragile extrapolation.

Machine learning speeds up risk analysis: emulators of expensive physical models, classification of imagery, forecasting from large datasets. Its weakness is extrapolation: a model trained on the historical climate or historical markets may fail exactly in the unprecedented conditions that systemic risk is about.

  • Test performance out of distribution, not only on held-out samples from the same period.
  • Report training data provenance and licence.
  • Keep a physical or mechanistic check where one exists.
  • Applications on AI and Autonomous Systems and Nexus Labs.
06Stewardship

Who maintains this page.

Artificial Intelligence and Autonomous Systems stewards artificial intelligence and machine learning: it keeps this description current and reviews how the method is applied across the platforms.

07Sources

Where this page's references lead.

The bodies and documents this page is read against. Status and editions change; each link goes to the issuing body.

09Questions

Questions and answers.

Why does one institution host every method page?
GCRI hosts the STEM Commons so that each method has one canonical description. Platforms link to it rather than repeat it, which keeps definitions consistent.
How do I suggest a correction to a method page?
Write to integrity@therisk.global with the passage and the reason.
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