Artificial intelligence is on the brink of a "diversity disaster"



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The consequences of this problem are well documented, from informal telephone conversations to hate to racial bias in facial recognition. The report indicates that these failures – attributed to a lack of diversity in the AI ​​sector – have created a "moment of taking into account". The author of the report, Kate Crawford, stated that the industry must recognize the seriousness of the situation and that the use of AI systems for the classification, detection and preaching of race and sex "requires urgent reassessment ".

Indeed, the report found that more than 80% of AI teachers were men – a figure that reflects a larger problem in the computer landscape. In 2015, women accounted for only 24% of the computer and information science workforce. At the same time, only 2.5% of Google employees are black, Facebook and Microsoft each reporting a slightly higher rate of 4%. Data on trans employees and other gender minorities are almost non-existent.

The report comes at a time when start-up venture capital financing has reached a record high – up 72% in 2018 to reach $ 9.33 billion. However, governance in the sector does not see the same strengthening. Earlier this month, for example, Google shut down its ethics committee on AI just a week after announcing it and soon dissolved the evaluation committee. responsible for IA DeepMind Health.

Talk to The GuardianTess Posner, CEO of AI4ALL, which seeks to increase diversity within Amnesty International, said the sector has reached a "watershed", adding that with each passing day, it is increasingly difficult to solve the problem. "It will take effort at all stages of AI and cultural and procedural changes to solve this problem."

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