Entry 04 of 44
Accountability
accomptare — to account for; ad + computare (to reckon)
Latin
From Old French aconter, from Latin ad- + computare: to reckon to, to give account of. Root concept: an obligation to render a full accounting to another party who has authority to receive it.
Established meaning
In law and governance: answerability to an external authority; the obligation to explain and accept consequences for actions. Requires an external party with standing to demand the account and power to impose consequences.
AI industry deployment
Internal review processes, ethics boards composed of company employees, voluntary commitments. 'Accountable AI' typically describes a company's self-described internal practices, not external oversight mechanisms.
Semantic gap
The external party
Accountability without an empowered external authority to receive the account is a closed loop: a company accounting to itself. The term has been hollowed of the structural element that gives it meaning.