Ethics, Organizing, and Accountability
Over the past year, research and advocacy have continued to expose bias, error, and misuse of Artificial Intelligence technologies–from law enforcement’s use of facial recognition to healthcare algorithms that drastically and erroneously cut benefits for the sick. Yet even in the face of increased public awareness and concern, the rapid adoption of these systems across sensitive social and political domains continues, with little oversight or transparency.
Efforts to grapple with these challenges frequently focus on the importance of “AI Ethics,” but questions remain about how to translate ethical promises into meaningful accountability. In parallel, we have also witnessed a shift in urgency and tactics, as academics, advocates, and tech workers organize against the unchecked influence and impact of AI systems.
The AI Now 2018 Symposium addressed the intersection of AI, ethics, organizing, and accountability–examining the landmark events of the past year that have brought these topics squarely into focus. What can we learn from them and where is there more work to be done?