Implications for AI and societal self-fulfilling prophecies

00:48 The stereotypes hidden in Internet images

Stereotyped assumptions about women’s ages and their perceived job suitability are enhanced by Internet imagery, according to new research. A study of hundreds of thousands of online images shows that women appear younger than men. This stereotype extends to the jobs that people perceive women do, with men being associated with roles such as CEO or head of research, while women were linked to occupations like cook or nurse. The research shows that these biases have been embedded into the training data for AI models and could affect future hiring. The researchers caution that society is at risk of creating a ‘self-fulfilling prophecy’ where these stereotypes shape the real world.

Research Article: Guilbeault et al.

News and Views: Distorted representations of age and gender are reflected in AI models

13:24 Research Highlights

A very hungry planet — plus, how climate change is leading to larger trees in the Amazon.

Research Highlight: ‘Rogue’ planet is fastest-growing ever observed

Research Highlight: Trees of the Amazon are becoming even mightier

15:49 Astronomers name their favourite exoplanet

Thirty years ago, astronomers announced the discovery of the first exoplanet around a Sun-like star, sparking a renewed passion into spotting these planets that lie beyond our Solar System. In celebration, Nature asked researchers to tell us about their favourites.

News: These alien planets are astronomers’ favourites: here’s why

Hear the music of a distant planetary system

25:51 Nobel news

Flora Graham from the Nature Briefing joins us to talk about the winners of this year’s science Nobel prizes.

Nature: Medicine Nobel goes to scientists who revealed secrets of immune system ‘regulation’

Nature: Groundbreaking quantum-tunnelling experiments win physics Nobel

Nature: Chemistry Nobel for scientists who developed massively porous ‘super sponge’ materials

Nature: Will AI ever win its own Nobel? Some predict a prize-worthy science discovery soon

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