Stories of racist AI and facial recognition leading false arrests are now all too common.
These examples of bias don't even touch on the implications of bias in other areas. For example, healthcare algorithms that discount certain diseases in marginalized populations are an example of bias. Biden's administration is well aware of the effects these new technologies are having on society. The White House has made reference to these examples in a Wired op-ed, calling for an "Act of Rights for AI"
"Powerful technologies must be required to respect democratic values and adhere to the central tenet of everyone should be treated fair," states Eric Lander, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy advisor and Alondra Nelson, its deputy director for science and technology. These ideas can be codified to ensure that.
Nelson and Lander point out that there are no regulations or safeguards for the use of AI technology. While there are obvious issues with tech being misused, there is also the problem of unintentional biases.
A company that sells its facial recognition system may not have intended for it to falsely identify a victim as a perpetrator. However, its creation does. People who are suffering real harm from the product's failure to accurately identify victims is what it matters.
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Officially, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy issued a "public request for information" for AI technology experts. Anyone who would like to express their opinion on the matter is encouraged to email [email protected]
Axios outlined the issue in a summary. It noted that the U.S. Bill of Rights (a document that dates back to 230 years and has 652 words) is still the subject of heated debate.
Although the White House acknowledges it will be difficult, the team admits to its success. However, AI and facial recognition technology must be held to a high standard.
They write that "Developing a bill for rights in an AI-powered world will not be easy but it is crucial."
