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- Story Listed as: Fiction For Adults
- Theme: Inspirational
- Subject: Education / Instruction
- Published: 04/06/2021
Unbiased Algorithms
Adult, F, from Sydney, Australia.jpeg)
I monitored the Machine Learning algorithm running on multiple screens in front of me. I’d designed an algorithm with Artificial Intelligence that was programmed to be unbiased with regards to class, gender and race.
Ever since the Netflix documentary had aired on “Coded Bias”, the technology heavy hitters had addressed the concerns of the public and most of the facial recognition software worked equally well across gender and race.
The fallout of the MIT Media Lab researcher, Joy Buolamwini's discovery of racial bias in facial recognition algorithms, had resulted in the involvement of a more diverse group of coders such as my small technology team of bright stars.
“AI shapes our lives, doesn’t it?” I asked my co-worker, Jared.
“Sure does, Sarah. I’ve been coding for decades now and I never thought it posed a threat to civil rights. Is it really an ethical issue?”
“It is if it impacts your application for jobs, credit and other things.”
“So, let me guess, Sarah, you’ve joined the Algorithmic Justice League?”
“No, I haven’t joined the AJL. However, I have now coded in some of the reasons as to why the algorithm is making the choices it is. For example, to select a good teacher, it is considering history of performance and awards, prior to the AI running, as well as certain more subtle teaching skills which are monitored by Camera Vision.”
“You have CVAI in every classroom. Is that safe for the kids?”
“In some ways, it is safer for the kids as they are less abused by bad teachers and less bullied by other kids.”
“What happens when they go out into the playground though, where there are less cameras?”
“Well, we can’t monitor every part of the playground, but we do have teachers out there during the breaks, who keep an eye on the kids and what they are getting up to. I’ve been a Computer Science teacher myself and know how important it is to monitor teenagers’ interactions and their individual mental health. It’s 'Teaching 101'.”
Jared looked at me sceptically as if he wanted to say something radical but decided to hold back.
“C’mon, Jared, just tell me what you are thinking about? It’s obviously worrying you and I can tell you want to verbalise it. Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine but I don’t get why women who are in technology have embraced some aspects of equality more than others. You are so worried about facial recognition but not the loss of your own privacy.”
“I’m worried about the lack of privacy but if you look at your social media accounts, you are probably being monitored and your behaviour analysed using Big Data, more than you are aware of anyway. The Tech companies own a valuable commodity and that is your user profile and details on all of the data about you. The 'Cambridge Analytica' situation a few years ago is a case in point. Perhaps clicking a single consent button shouldn’t open all of your data to be mined?”
“You are right there but how will we ever return to a simpler age, without data being sold to the highest bidder?’
“Realistically, we can probably only go forward from here with more advanced algorithms, but we need laws on ethics and possibly even technology police to monitor that they are being enforced. The governance of the technology industry needs to keep up with the new developments in AI.”
With that, I shut down my desktop for the day and said a final goodbye to Jared.
As I walked home with my backpack over my shoulder, thoughts about AI applications and ways to monitor them wove through my mind like vivid dreaming on a night full of wild dreams.
Unbiased Algorithms(Debra Widdicombe)
I monitored the Machine Learning algorithm running on multiple screens in front of me. I’d designed an algorithm with Artificial Intelligence that was programmed to be unbiased with regards to class, gender and race.
Ever since the Netflix documentary had aired on “Coded Bias”, the technology heavy hitters had addressed the concerns of the public and most of the facial recognition software worked equally well across gender and race.
The fallout of the MIT Media Lab researcher, Joy Buolamwini's discovery of racial bias in facial recognition algorithms, had resulted in the involvement of a more diverse group of coders such as my small technology team of bright stars.
“AI shapes our lives, doesn’t it?” I asked my co-worker, Jared.
“Sure does, Sarah. I’ve been coding for decades now and I never thought it posed a threat to civil rights. Is it really an ethical issue?”
“It is if it impacts your application for jobs, credit and other things.”
“So, let me guess, Sarah, you’ve joined the Algorithmic Justice League?”
“No, I haven’t joined the AJL. However, I have now coded in some of the reasons as to why the algorithm is making the choices it is. For example, to select a good teacher, it is considering history of performance and awards, prior to the AI running, as well as certain more subtle teaching skills which are monitored by Camera Vision.”
“You have CVAI in every classroom. Is that safe for the kids?”
“In some ways, it is safer for the kids as they are less abused by bad teachers and less bullied by other kids.”
“What happens when they go out into the playground though, where there are less cameras?”
“Well, we can’t monitor every part of the playground, but we do have teachers out there during the breaks, who keep an eye on the kids and what they are getting up to. I’ve been a Computer Science teacher myself and know how important it is to monitor teenagers’ interactions and their individual mental health. It’s 'Teaching 101'.”
Jared looked at me sceptically as if he wanted to say something radical but decided to hold back.
“C’mon, Jared, just tell me what you are thinking about? It’s obviously worrying you and I can tell you want to verbalise it. Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine but I don’t get why women who are in technology have embraced some aspects of equality more than others. You are so worried about facial recognition but not the loss of your own privacy.”
“I’m worried about the lack of privacy but if you look at your social media accounts, you are probably being monitored and your behaviour analysed using Big Data, more than you are aware of anyway. The Tech companies own a valuable commodity and that is your user profile and details on all of the data about you. The 'Cambridge Analytica' situation a few years ago is a case in point. Perhaps clicking a single consent button shouldn’t open all of your data to be mined?”
“You are right there but how will we ever return to a simpler age, without data being sold to the highest bidder?’
“Realistically, we can probably only go forward from here with more advanced algorithms, but we need laws on ethics and possibly even technology police to monitor that they are being enforced. The governance of the technology industry needs to keep up with the new developments in AI.”
With that, I shut down my desktop for the day and said a final goodbye to Jared.
As I walked home with my backpack over my shoulder, thoughts about AI applications and ways to monitor them wove through my mind like vivid dreaming on a night full of wild dreams.
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Shirley Smothers
04/12/2021Scary stuff. A great story. This is scary time we live in. Congratulations on SHORT STORY STAR OF THE DAY.
ReplyHelp Us Understand What's Happening
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Gerald R Gioglio
04/12/2021Whoa, Debra. Scary stuff and less fiction than we'd like to believe . Commonweal Magazine just published a too long and equally disturbing piece on AI. You may want to check it out. But, more to the issue at hand. Nicely done; thanks for the trip. GRG
ReplyHelp Us Understand What's Happening
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Help Us Understand What's Happening
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