Sneha Revanur, AI researcher, discusses the social effects of AI, ethics vs safety, humans in the loop, AI in social media, AIs identifying as AIs, AI influence in elections, and AIs interacting with human systems.
The AI community should collaborate instead of viewing ethics and safety as separate and opposing camps.
Implementing surveillance tools without robust cybersecurity measures poses safety and privacy risks.
Social media algorithms contribute to a youth mental health crisis, extremism, and the spread of misinformation, necessitating user education.
Deep dives
Founding of Incode Justice and Its Evolution
Sneha Revenor founded Incode Justice, a youth movement focused on human-centered and safe artificial intelligence (AI), in response to a ballot measure in California relating to the use of algorithms in criminal justice. The organization has expanded its focus to include national and international policy as well as addressing risks such as bias, disinformation, autonomous weapons, and electoral destabilization. The initial intention was to make an impact in California but the movement grew exponentially, leading to the realization that there is a need to address pressing challenges on a larger scale.
Integrating Viewpoints and Concerns of Global Members
Incode Justice strives to integrate the viewpoints and concerns of its diverse membership, which includes almost 1,000 young people. Recognizing that young people are not monolithic and have varying ideologies and policy disagreements, the organization governs democratically. The leadership team regularly discusses issues, takes votes on endorsing legislation, and facilitates internal meetings and town halls for youth members to engage in discussions. This inclusive approach helps in reaching informed conclusions and defining the organization's public positions.
Surprising Lessons Learned: Possibilities of Influence and AI Community Factionalism
Sneha Revenor highlights two surprising lessons learned. Firstly, Incode Justice achieved more than anticipated, including advising the White House on AI policy issues and collaborating with various stakeholders. The organization became a youth voice due to the lack of youth engagement in the AI space. Secondly, there exists internal factionalism within the AI community, with a division between the ethics and safety camps. However, Revenor stresses that there is more overlap than imagined and emphasizes the need to collaborate rather than view it as a dichotomy.
Privacy and cybersecurity risks of school surveillance
Implementing surveillance tools in response to crises and violence introduces unforeseen safety and privacy risks. Handling sensitive data, such as medical or facial data, requires robust cybersecurity measures. Insufficient investment in cybersecurity poses a threat. School surveillance's principal harm lies in the rush towards surveillance, risking privacy and safety.
Impact of social media algorithms
Social media algorithms have had a profound impact, particularly on young people. Negative consequences documented include a youth mental health crisis, amplification of extremism, and the spread of misinformation. Algorithms contribute to body image issues, self-harm, and even real-world acts of political violence. There is a growing need for user education on discerning fact from fiction amidst blurred lines and the exponential growth of AI's capabilities.
Sneha Revanur joins the podcast to discuss the social effects of AI, the illusory divide between AI ethics and AI safety, the importance of humans in the loop, the different effects of AI on younger and older people, and the importance of AIs identifying as AIs. You can read more about Sneha's work at https://encodejustice.org
Timestamps:
00:00 Encode Justice
06:11 AI ethics and AI safety
15:49 Humans in the loop
23:59 AI in social media
30:42 Deteriorating social skills?
36:00 AIs identifying as AIs
43:36 AI influence in elections
50:32 AIs interacting with human systems
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