The Smart Hiring Algorithm that Discriminated Against Women

+AI-Governance-Privacy-Protecting-Data-and-Preventing-Bias+

In 2018, Amazon's recruitment team was excited to test a new artificial intelligence system to help them sort through resumes and identify the most promising job candidates. But after a year of development, they found the program was disciniminating against female applicants.

The system was trained on ten years' worth of resumes from primarily male engineers, and it learned to give higher scores to resumes that contained words like "executed" and "captured." These words were more commonly used by men, making the algorithm biased against female applicants.

Fortunately, Amazon scrapped the program before it was used to make any hiring decisions. But the incident highlighted the importance of AI governance and privacy in preventing discrimination and protecting sensitive data.

AI Governance and Privacy in Action

AI governance refers to the policies and procedures put in place to ensure the responsible and ethical use of AI technology. Meanwhile, data privacy is the protection of personal information from being misused or mishandled.

Here are some examples of AI governance and privacy in action:

Google's facial recognition technology: In 2018, Google announced it would not sell its facial recognition technology until it could develop safeguards to prevent misuse, including by governments.
Microsoft's AI ethics committee: In 2020, Microsoft formed an AI ethics committee to oversee the company's use of AI, including its impact on society and human rights.
The European Union's GDPR: The General Data Protection Regulation, implemented in 2018, provides strict guidelines for how companies collect, store, and process personal data within the EU and beyond. Non-compliance can result in significant fines.

How AI Governance and Privacy Affect Real People

AI governance and privacy are more than just abstract concepts. They have real-world implications for individuals and society as a whole. Here are a few examples:

Employment discrimination: As the Amazon example showed, AI systems can sometimes make discriminatory decisions based on biased data. This can lead to qualified candidates being overlooked for jobs.

Consumer privacy: Companies that collect personal data (such as names, addresses, and purchasing history) have a responsibility to protect that data from being hacked or leaked. In 2017, Equifax suffered a massive data breach that exposed the personal information of more than 143 million people.

Surveillance and human rights: Governments and law enforcement agencies use AI-powered surveillance systems to monitor citizens in public spaces. This can infringe on people's right to privacy and freedom of movement.

Practical Tips for AI Governance and Privacy

Whether you're an individual, a business owner, or a policymaker, there are steps you can take to promote responsible and ethical AI governance and privacy:

Understand the technology: If you're going to use AI or build an AI system, make sure you understand how it works and how it might produce biased or unethical results.
Be transparent: Companies should be clear about what data they collect and how it will be used. Individuals should have the option to opt out of data collection.
Advocate for change: Encourage policymakers to draft laws and regulations that promote ethical and responsible AI governance and protect individual privacy rights.

Conclusion: Why AI Governance and Privacy Matter

The incident with Amazon's recruitment algorithm is just one example of how AI governance and privacy are critical for preventing discrimination and protecting sensitive data. Whether it's employment, consumer privacy, or human rights, AI has the potential to impact individuals and society in profound ways. That's why it's essential to prioritize responsible and ethical AI governance and privacy protections.

In summary, the key takeaways are:

AI governance refers to the policies and procedures put in place to ensure responsible and ethical use of AI technology.
Data privacy is the protection of personal information from being misused or mishandled.
Real-world examples demonstrate the impact of AI governance and privacy on individuals and society.
Practical tips include understanding the technology, being transparent, and advocating for change.
Policymakers, business owners, and individuals all have a role to play in promoting responsible and ethical AI governance and privacy protections.

References: