When you scratch the surface of algorithmic bias, you will find deep layers of systemic racism and sexism.
There is a tendency to oversimplify algorithmic bias and temptation to explain it away as unethical behavior by a handful of bad actors, but it’s more complicated than that. Deeply entrenched systemic biases in our society consistently show up as bias in algorithmic models across industries and use cases. These issues will not be solved through eloquent PR statements or by spinning up yet another version of ethical principles. Systemic issues like racial and social injustice are harder to solve and not as newsy but confronting them head on will get us closer to a long-term solution that will last beyond a couple of news cycles.
This past month, Hessie Jones chronicled my journey to help address some of these underlying issues by increasing recognition and representation of women in critical conversations about AI Ethics so we can make sustainable progress towards more diverse and inclusive AI. I hope you will join us in this effort.
Please take care of yourself and stay safe wherever you are in the world.
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Education
Mutant Algorithms Are Coming for Your Education
h/t Meredith Broussard @merbroussard
“Bad algorithms have been causing a lot of trouble lately. One, designed to supplant exam scores, blew the college prospects of untold numbers of students attending International Baccalaureate schools around the world.”
When Algorithms Give Real Students Imaginary Grades
h/t Eric Klinenberg @EricKlinenberg
“Crude generalizations work for Netflix predictions because the stakes are low. If the Netflix algorithm suggests a show and I don’t like it, I ignore it and move on with my day. In education, the stakes are much higher.”
Eldercare
You can get a robot to keep your lonely grandparents company. Should you?
h/t Shannon Vallor @ShannonVallor
“Human contact is already in danger of becoming a luxury good as we create robots to more cheaply do the work of people. Getting robots to take on more and more caregiving duties could mean reducing seniors’ level of human contact even further.”
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