In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Rashawn Ray, Vice President at the American Institutes for Research (AIR) and Executive Director of AIR Equity Initiative, Professor of Sociology at the University of Maryland and Senior Fellow at The Brookings Institution. Dr. Ray’s innovative work lies at the powerful intersection of policing, technology and social equity, where he explores how AI can be designed and implemented to enhance fairness, reduce inequality and ultimately be a force for positive change in both local communities and the broader world.

Key Takeaways:

(01:00) Regulating AI without stifling innovation is crucial.

(07:06) How virtual reality enhances police training by addressing implicit bias.

(12:22) The impact of diverse teams on equitable AI development.

(19:36) Overcoming challenges in implementing VR training in smaller law enforcement agencies.

(25:50) Tech companies collaborating on socially impactful AI projects is vital.

(31:55) Community involvement is critical in shaping AI and VR technologies.

(36:21) The role of DEI initiatives in improving AI’s fairness and effectiveness.

(42:09) The future of AI legislation and its potential to democratize technology.

Resources Mentioned:

Dr. Rashawn Ray -

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sociologistray/

AIR | Website - https://www.air.org/

AIR Equity Initiative | LinkedIn -

https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/air-equity-initiative/about/

AIR Equity Initiative Website -

https://www.air.org/air-equity-initiative-bridge-more-equitable-world

Lab for Applied Social Science Research -

https://socy.umd.edu/centers/lab-applied-social-science-research-%28lassr%29

Brookings Institution -

https://www.brookings.edu

Dr. Rashawn Ray - AIR -

https://www.air.org/experts/person/rashawn-ray

Dr. Rashan Ray’s | Website -

https://www.rashawnray.com/

“Extracting Protest Events from Newspaper Articles with ChatGPT” (working paper) - https://uncmap.org/publication/chat-wp/

“5 questions policymakers should ask about facial recognition, law enforcement and algorithmic bias” - https://www.brookings.edu/articles/5-questions-policymakers-should-ask-about-facial-recognition-law-enforcement-and-algorithmic-bias/

“Examining equity in transportation safety enforcement” -

https://www.brookings.edu/articles/examining-equity-in-transportation-safety-enforcement/

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