AI researcher Kerry McInerney discusses applying feminism to tech, tackling deepfakes, online harassment, and tailoring AI for local applications. She emphasizes the need for corporate responsibility in addressing online abuse, highlighting the societal, political, and psychological dimensions. The podcast explores the intersection of feminism and technology, ethics in AI, and the importance of reshaping tech futures with feminist perspectives.
Feminism may not offer a quick fix for internet problems, but it can lead to transformative changes. By incorporating feminist principles, the internet can become safer and more equitable. Safety online is often determined by individual experiences, with some groups facing more harm and violence, like women journalists. Feminism can address the continuum of violence experienced by women offline and online, making the internet a more inclusive space.
Impact of Technology on Gender-Based Violence
Technology-facilitated gender-based violence, such as deep fake technology and smart home devices, poses significant threats. Deep fakes amplify intimate image abuse, disseminating harmful material without consent. The use of mundane technologies like smart home devices can lead to coercive control and domestic violence. Technology's role in perpetrating gender-based violence requires a comprehensive and feminist-informed response.
Ethical Concerns with Generative AI Tools
Generative AI tools can unintentionally perpetuate biases present in their training data, resulting in stereotypical outputs. Generative AI technologies like chat GPT have raised ethical questions about their neutrality and potential to reinforce stereotypes. Addressing biases in AI tools requires a deeper understanding of how data influences outcomes and a more critical approach to tech development.
Challenges in AI Ethics and Accountability
Determining accountability for harmful AI content remains a complex issue. While responsibility lies with content creators and platforms, long-term solutions involve reimagining societal structures beyond reactive punishment. Building societies that address technology-mediated gender-based violence requires innovative and feminist-driven approaches that move beyond punitive measures.
Creating Safer Spaces Online Through Diverse Narratives
Diverse narratives, such as fan fiction, reflect feminist-led spaces that provide opportunities for exploration and expression. However, ensuring the safety of these communities, especially for marginalized individuals and minors, presents safeguarding challenges. Embracing diverse voices and perspectives can enrich online spaces, but concerns around data scraping and privacy raise important considerations for maintaining a safe and inclusive digital environment.
From deepfakes to the fear of AI taking jobs, to the social media giants making money from abusive content, our technology dominated world is in a crisis – what are the solutions?
AI researcher Kerry McInerney applies a feminist perspective to data, algorithms and intelligent machines. AI-powered tech, and generative AI in particular, pose new challenges for cybersecurity. Kerry proposes a new take on AI, looking at how it can be used on a small scale, acknowledging culture and gender, tailoring the technology for local applications rather than trying to push for global, one size fits all strategies.
And in addressing corporate responsibility for Big Tech, Kerry discusses how tackling harassment online requires an understanding of the social, political and psychological dimensions of harassment, particularly of women in the wider world, as opposed to seeing this as a technical problem.
Dr Kerry McInerney is a research fellow at the Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence, University of Cambridge, and the AI Now Institute.
This is the last of four programmes from the Oxford Literary Festival, presented by Nuala McGovern, produced by Julian Siddle.
Recorded in front of an audience at Worcester College Oxford.
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