On an individual and societal scale, how can we fight for an alternative future, where algorithms are non-racist, non-sexist, non-discriminatory, non-oppressive, but instead… humanizing?
In this day and age, where algorithms are so easily exploited for hurtful practices across marginalized communities, we can all strive to use technology as a platform to share knowledge on such inequities. Whether it be taking advantage of Instagram’s platform by publishing educational content, using YouTube’s algorithms to recommend uplifting videos to users worldwide, and even my own creating of this website in an effort to spread awareness, we can utilize technology as a beneficial tool in our own everyday lives. On a larger scale, below are two of many movements founded in a light to advocate for an alternative future:
Distributed Artificial Intelligence Research Institute
Timnit Gebru (2021)
Algorithmic Justice League
Joy Buolamwini (2016)
In today’s world, AI systems are used to decide who gets hired, the quality of medical treatment we receive, and whether we become a suspect in a police investigation. While these tools show great promise, they can also harm vulnerable and marginalized people, and threaten civil rights. Unchecked, unregulated and, at times, unwanted, AI systems can amplify racism, sexism, ableism, and other forms of discrimination.
The Algorithmic Justice League’s mission is to raise awareness about the impacts of AI, equip advocates with empirical research, build the voice and choice of the most impacted communities, and galvanize researchers, policy makers, and industry practitioners to mitigate AI harms and biases. We’re building a movement to shift the AI ecosystem towards equitable and accountable AI.
We are an interdisciplinary and globally distributed AI research institute rooted in the belief that AI is not inevitable, its harms are preventable, and when its production and deployment include diverse perspectives and deliberate processes it can be beneficial. Our research reflects our lived experiences and centers our communities.
Our Values
Community, not exploitation: We believe that research should center the voices and experiences of those most impacted by technology and should be rooted in their communities. Our distributed research institute allows us to remain embedded in our communities in the U.S. and globally to include a greater diversity of perspectives and lived experiences.
Healthy, thriving researchers: As researchers ourselves, we understand that the current environments in which we conduct this work do not prioritize our well-being. We value the commitments required to produce strong research and are committed to being a place where researchers do not have to choose between their work and their health.
Comprehensive, principled processes: We believe that groundbreaking research happens when researchers have the space to thoroughly conduct their work. We value deliberate, comprehensive processes that lead to quality findings.
Proactive, pragmatic research: We believe that artificial intelligence can be a productive, inclusive technology that benefits our communities, rather than work against them. However, we also believe that AI is not always the solution and should not be treated as an inevitability. Our goal is to be proactive about this technology and identify ways to use it to people’s benefit where possible, caution against potential harms and block it when it creates more harm than good.