Why the elephant?

It is impossible to lead effectively or to create any technology without bias if a wide set of perspectives is not considered.

The core philosophies of the Anekanta® brand are underpinned by Anekantavada. Our interpretation of the doctrine juxtaposes narrow perspectives drawn from limited experience and the best version of the truth determined from multiple view points, favouring the latter, without which decisions will be biased towards the limited view point.

This concept plays out when applied to data ingested into AI models. For example, in facial recognition software if a non diverse set of images trains the model the AI can only “see” images like them. The AI is inherently biased and may cause false positives (incorrect identification) which do not provide the right information to the human-in-the-loop, who also may be biased, and worse, who may defer to the machine resulting in a harmful decision backed by false evidence.

The bias issue can cause untold harms to groups whose demographic was missed out of the training data. Software developers are continually working on reducing bias by seeking independent perspectives outside the ‘echo chamber’. Our goal is to help our customers and stakeholders identify AI opportunities and their risks and prevent harm before it occurs based on our assessment of the real-world scenarios. This includes mapping legal and regulatory compliance with new standards and regulations including ISO/IEC 42001, the EU AI Act, and nascent UK regulations.

What are the origins of Anekanta®?

Our use of the Anekanta® name is unique in the responsible AI market. The brand is a registered trade mark, its use with our products and services is commercially trademarked and everything we create is copyright Anekanta® Ltd. The origins of the name are rooted in ‘Anekantavada’ and the use of the ‘elephant parable’ in a Responsible AI business context is also a trademark of Anekanta® Ltd.

Anekantavada is explained through the well known parable of the elephant and the blindfolded men [sic] which is a core philosophy of Jainism.

“Several blindfolded people are each given the task of identifying a large animal (an elephant) using their sense of touch alone. Each declares a different result; a wall, a tree, a snake. They are all adamant that they are correct. But without the full view, each makes an error. Only when the perspectives of all are combined are they able to agree that the animal is an elephant.“
Text modernised. Original source Piotr Balcerowicz (2003). Essays in Jaina Philosophy and Religion.

In the parable, the individual’s observations reveal evidence, but their assessment of the whole object is biased towards their narrow view; and none can identify the elephant unless they agree the best version of the truth by consensus.

Why do we need the wider picture?

If we transfer our interpretation of the parable into an industry setting, we often hear the expression “looking at an elephant through a pinhole” or “needing the wider picture”. This means that alternative perspectives are needed in order to understand what is felt to be the most complete version of the truth upon which a decision may be based.

The concept encourages the opening of the minds of executives to the idea that different perspectives may not be available within the organization. This may be because everyone thinks in the same way, all look the same, or may not have the skills, experience, benchmarking or resources available to them.

Group-think – what is that?

Group-think is an issue in the decision-making process. It can happen if the board is a closed network and there is insufficient diversity of thought and little or no inclusion. It may miss out on the different perspectives resulting in a narrow or less successful strategy. A good test of diversity is whether the entire board looks and acts in the same way, everyone agrees and there is little or no healthy and challenging debate. If board executives do not look outside a narrow perspective, the board, and therefore the company will be less successful than one which is diverse and inclusive. It is our view that a non-diverse board is an indication that the organisation is not diverse, regardless of ‘EDI washing’ efforts.

Anekanta®’s purpose

In a world powered by artificial intelligence, trust is the most valuable currency. Anekanta® exists to safeguard that trust by guiding global brands through the evolving landscape of responsible AI. We are the guiding light for organisations deploying high-risk AI, particularly biometrics and facial recognition, ensuring their compliance with the EU AI Act and emerging regulations in the UK and US.

Our mission

Our mission is not just to tick regulatory boxes, but to build a future where AI empowers progress without compromising human rights, privacy, and transparency. We partner with global brands, delving into the complexities of their multi-system environments, to assess, de-risk, and govern their high-impact AI applications.

Our Vision

Our vision imagines a future where AI empowers progress for all, guided by principles of transparency, fairness, and accountability, with Anekanta® leading the way.

Beyond compliance, we strive to cultivate a culture of responsible AI within your organisation. Through training, the creation of playbooks, delivery of workshops, and ongoing support, we empower your teams to champion ethical principles and build trust with all stakeholders.

At Anekanta®, we believe AI has the potential to revolutionise countless industries, but only if deployed ethically and responsibly. We are your partners in navigating this complex landscape, ensuring that your AI journey is not just compliant, but truly transformative.

At Anekanta®, we believe AI has the potential to revolutionise countless industries. We are your partners in ensuring that your AI journey is not just compliant, but truly transformative.

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