Is AI like ChatGPT increasing inequality?

The story of a job-seeking graduate and an AI recruiter

David had recently graduated from college and was looking for a job in his field of expertise. He was told by a friend to apply at a popular online job portal which was using an AI recruitment tool to shortlist candidates. David applied but never heard back. After a few weeks, he received a message from the same portal stating that his application was rejected due to lack of experience, even though he had relevant skills and qualifications.

David discovered later that the recruitment tool used by the portal was programmed to filter out candidates with less than a certain number of years of experience, and his application did not even make it to a human recruiter. David's friend, who had recommended the job portal, also had a similar experience earlier. Both of them realized that the AI recruitment tool was contributing to inequality by favoring experienced candidates and rejecting those who had just graduated and had no prior work experience.

Real-life examples of AI increasing inequality

The use of AI in various industries may have unintentionally resulted in inequality. For instance:

1. Apple's Siri voice assistant was criticized for its female voice which reinforced gender stereotypes, indicating passive and subservient behavior.
2. Amazon's recruiting tool was discovered to have discriminated against women by downgrading resumes that included womenâ??s names or membership in womenâ??s clubs.
3. Apple's Facetime allowed callers to hear and even see the other person they were calling before the recipient picked up, resulting in unintended consequences like privacy invasion and harassment.

Conclusion

The use of AI has undoubtedly provided convenience and efficiency to various industries, but its potential risks cannot be ignored. Economists have warned that AI like ChatGPT can increase inequality. Here are three key takeaways:

• AI recruitment tools can be biased and discriminate against potential candidates based on certain criteria.
• AI can perpetuate harmful stereotypes and reinforce discrimination due to its programming.
• AI can unintentionally lead to negative consequences if not tested and evaluated properly.