Skintone. Google: the inclusive future of AI technology.
At this point, we’re probably all familiar with algorithms thanks to social media, and perhaps even the idea of targeted advertising—but how are they adding to the marginalisation and oppression of POC? Safiya Umoji Noble, associate professor at UCLA, states in her book, Algorithms of Oppression, that her research points to both racist and sexist bias within digital media platforms. The public expect these platforms to be credible, fair, objective, neutral; but are they? Computer scientist and digital activist, Joy Buolamwini, founder of the Algorithmic Justice League and writer of Gender Shades, found that data-centric technologies were vulnerable to bias. She explains that if we fail to make ethical inclusive artificial intelligence, we risk losing the civil rights and gender equity made under the guise of machine neutrality.