AI and Social Justice: Navigating the Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Society's Equity and Inclusion

By: Masisha Rahman, OFIS Ambassador

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a rapidly growing field that has the potential to impact society in profound ways. While AI has been touted as a solution to many social problems, it is important to recognize that it can also perpetuate existing inequalities and injustices. AI systems have been shown to replicate and even amplify biases related to race, gender, and other social factors. Therefore, it is essential to consider the social justice implications of AI development and deployment in order to ensure that AI benefits equitably across communities (populations, geographies).

One key way that AI can impact social justice is through biased decision-making. AI systems rely on algorithms that are trained on data, and if that data is biased, the resulting system can perpetuate that bias. For example, facial recognition technology has been shown to have higher error rates for people with darker skin tones, and this could have serious implications for individuals who are misidentified by these systems. Similarly, predictive policing algorithms have been criticized for perpetuating racial profiling and targeting minority communities, leading to unfair treatment and unjust outcomes. These examples highlight the importance of attention to the social justice implications of AI and the importance of developing more inclusive and equitable systems.

Another way in which AI impacts social justice is through the potential for job displacement. While AI has the potential to increase productivity and efficiency, it also leads to the displacement of workers in certain industries. This could have a disproportionate impact on vulnerable communities who may already be struggling to find employment. For example, research has shown that low-wage workers, women, and people of color are more likely to be displaced by automation. Therefore, it is important to consider the potential impact of AI on different communities and to develop strategies to mitigate the negative effects of automation.

To address these issues, there are several steps that can be taken to ensure that AI is developed and deployed in a socially just manner. One key step is to increase transparency and accountability in AI decision-making. This can be done through the development of explainable AI systems that can provide clear explanations for their decisions, as well as through greater oversight and regulation of AI systems. Additionally, it is important to ensure that diverse perspectives are represented in the development and deployment of AI systems, including input from communities that may be impacted by these systems. Finally, it is important to invest in education and training programs that help workers adapt to the changing workforce and take advantage of new opportunities created by AI.

The Social justice implications of AI are an important and pressing issue that must be addressed in order to ensure that the benefits of this technology are shared fairly and equitably across society. By recognizing the potential for bias and discrimination in AI systems and by taking steps to address these issues, we can help to create a more just and inclusive society. Through greater transparency, accountability, and community engagement, we can work together to build a future where AI is used to promote social justice and equality.

The Aspen Institute Science & Society Program’s Our Future Is Science initiative explores connections between STEM and social justice— enables young people to think deeply about diverse societal issues and how science can be used to solve them.

Additional Sources:

1. Buolamwini, J., & Gebru, T. (2018). Gender shades: Intersectional accuracy disparities in commercial gender classification. Conference on fairness, accountability and transparency, 77-91.

2. Eubanks, V. (2018). Automating inequality: How high-tech tools profile, police, and punish the poor. St. Martin's Press.

3. Ford, M. (2015). The rise of robots: Technology and the threat of mass unemployment. Oneworld Publications.

4. Mittelstadt, B. D., Allo, P., Taddeo, M., Wachter, S., & Floridi, L. (2016). The ethics of algorithms: Mapping the debate. Big data & society, 3(2), 2053951716679679

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