The popular notion that AI is unbiased and objective has proved to be wishful thinking or wilful ignorance.
MIT apologizes, permanently pulls offline huge dataset that taught AI systems to use racist, misogynistic slurs
h/t Dr Chris McKillop @atscmc
“Vinay Prabhu, chief scientist at UnifyID, a privacy startup in Silicon Valley, and Abeba Birhane, a PhD candidate at University College Dublin in Ireland, pored over the MIT database and discovered thousands of images labelled with racist slurs for Black and Asian people, and derogatory terms used to describe women.” Read More.
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Role of Big Tech
Covid-19 and Changing Attitudes: Technology and Big Tech
h/t Max Beverton-Palmer @Maxjb
“This research report looks at perceptions of technology and Big Tech companies in the context of the coronavirus pandemic. It seeks to understand how people perceive technology companies in the context of global institutions such as the United Nations and the World Health Organisation (WHO) and what role people think Big Tech has to play in tackling the problems created by the pandemic.” Read More.
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Ethics + Diversity in AI
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Study: Only 18% of data science students are learning about AI ethics
h/t Mia Shah-Dand @MiaD
“According to a new survey of 2,360 data science students, academics, and professionals by software firm Anaconda. Only 15% of instructors and professors said they’re teaching AI ethics, and just 18% of students indicated they’re learning about the subject.” Read More.
AI Conference CogX Faces Scrutiny Over Diversity, Response Missteps
h/t Theo @psb_dc
“With allegations of appropriation, a lack of diverse panelists for a panel about diversity, and a lack of a clear and definitive apology, the organizers of CogX made many missteps during its recent online conference.” Read More.
AI + Democracy
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How AI can empower communities and strengthen democracy
h/t Khari Johnson @kharijohnson
“Each Fourth of July for the past five years I’ve written about AI with the potential to positively impact democratic societies. I return to this question in hopes of shining a light on technology that can strengthen communities, protect privacy and freedoms, and otherwise support the public good.” Read More.
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