The TWIML AI Podcast (formerly This Week in Machine Learning & Artificial Intelligence) Decolonizing AI with Shakir Mohamed - #418
Oct 14, 2020
Shakir Mohamed, Senior Research Scientist at DeepMind and leader of Deep Learning Indaba, explores the vital intersection of AI and decolonization. He discusses his impactful paper 'Decolonial AI' and the distinction from ethical AI, emphasizing the role of community in African machine learning. Shakir highlights collaborations for social good, critiques existing power structures in the field, and underscores the importance of historical perspectives in technology. Join him for an inspiring dialogue on inclusivity and the quest for genuine change in AI.
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Shakir's Background
- Shakir Mohamed, originally from South Africa, studied at the University of the Witwatersrand and Cambridge.
- He joined DeepMind early on and now works on various machine learning topics, including sociotechnical research.
AI and History
- If AI aims to enrich communities, it must acknowledge its past and the impact of technology historically.
- Considering colonial history is crucial, as it shapes current thinking and technological development.
Theory and Action
- Shakir Mohamed views theorizing and action as inseparable.
- Real-world action is necessary to test theories and understand how change truly happens.