AI expert Meredith Broussard warns us that the bias encoded into artificial intelligence systems cannot be fixed simply by providing more data or improving the algorithms. To truly confront racism, sexism and ableism, a change needs to be made on a societal level. An associate professor at NYU’s Arthur L Carter Journalism Institute, Broussard has published a new book titled More Than a Glitch: Confronting Race, Gender and Ability Bias in Tech.
In her book, Broussard draws attention to the harm that AI-based technologies can cause. She explains that acknowledging that algorithms can be biased isn’t enough – we must also understand the underlying context, particularly the racist and sexist factors encoded into them. Whether we are talking about facial recognition software, mortgage approval algorithms or AI doctors, we must demand that our technologies are beneficial for everyone and not just the privileged.
In this case, more data is definitely not the solution. Though data may appear to be neutral, it can also be inaccurate or biased. Through her research, Broussard advocates for algorithmic auditing as a way to perform measures that can evaluate systemic bias.
The use of technology in healthcare is a particularly sensitive topic. Broussard has dealt with cancer herself and warns us of the inaccuracy of the medical AI. Though AI may have served her well, its inability to distinguish subtle signs of diseases and its reliance on false positives can be extremely distressing to patients. AI should not be viewed as a magic tool that can replace doctors – it is simply a tool and must be evaluated critically and objectively.
Broussard’s acumen in the field of AI also extends to OpenAI, a machine learning research laboratory famously co-founded by Sam Altman. Recently, Altman promoted AI doctors as a way of solving the healthcare crisis, which outraged many – including Broussard. She argued that a two-tier healthcare system in which those with more wealth would enjoy the privilege of seeing a human doctor is inexcusable.
AI plays an increasingly important role in modern life. However, with its advancements come ethical considerations and in cases such as Broussard’s, issues of equity and fairness. It is therefore essential that society holds AI companies accountable for their actions and ensures that their systems benefit all members of society.
The company mentioned in this article is OpenAI, a machine learning research laboratory famously co-founded by Sam Altman. OpenAI’s mission is to ensure that artificial general intelligence (AGI) benefits all of humanity. They have created an ambitious and diverse global research program to explore the potential of AI while at the same time including guardrails to ensure safety and optimization of their technologies.
The person mentioned in this article is Meredith Broussard. She is an associate professor at NYU’s Arthur L Carter Journalism Institute, data journalist and academic whose research focuses on bias in artificial intelligence (AI). Broussard has been in the vanguard of raising awareness and sounding the alarm about unchecked AI and to highlight the very real social harms that can be embedded in technology. She is the author of Artificial Unintelligence (2018) and More Than a Glitch: Confronting Race, Gender and Ability Bias in Tech, and appeared in the Netflix documentary Coded Bias (2020).
