Professor Bursar: As a citizen whose important life decisions may be made by an algorithm, I think we're owed an explanation. But how do you think through the kind of ethical conundrum where it's not in the best interest of the algorithm owner to make the algorithm or to hold the algorithm accountable? There is a there's something going around Washington right now called the blueprint for an AI bill of rights.
Meredith Broussard is one of the most visible, vocal leaders in the emerging field of algorithmic accountability. Professor Broussard is a data scientist and Associate Professor at NYU whose research focuses on AI in investigative reporting and using data analysis for social good. Meredith is the author of Artificial Unintelligence: How Computers Misunderstand the World and the forthcoming More Than a Glitch: Confronting Race, Gender, and Ability Bias in Tech.
Among other things, Professor Broussard was featured in the seminal documentary Coded Bias. Today's discussion is about one of the most important topics in our field and in this episode we explore it with someone whose name is on a shortlist of AI ethics pioneers. You’ve heard me say repeatedly coursework in AI ethics should be required for every student graduating with a technical degree. Here's why!
Listen and learn...
- How AI reveals bias encoded in society
- Why it's important to always ask "what could go wrong"
- What is the new field of "algorithmic accountability reporting"
- What the Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights may mean for bad acting companies
- What's the right role for the federal government in AI regulation
- How to assign an "accountability score" to algorithms
- The ethical issues related to AI we'll be discussing in a decade
References in this episode...