Tech Tech's ethical problem could begin in class: NPR

Ethics is something that the world's largest technology companies are forced to rely on. Facebook has been criticized for its inability to quickly eliminate toxic content, including the broadcast of the shootings in New Zealand's mosque. YouTube had to disable comments on minors' videos after pedophiles gathered on its platform.

Some companies have hired ethicists to help identify some of these issues. But philosophy professor Abby Everett Jaques of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology said that was not enough. It is essential that future engineers and computer scientists understand the pitfalls of technology, she says. So she created a class at MIT called Ethics of Technology.

While artificial intelligence continues to infiltrate our lives, Jaques worries about privacy. She is particularly concerned about facial recognition "continually and invading us".

Studies have already shown that facial recognition poorly identifies people with dark skin. Google has come under fire from critics when its photo application called blacks gorillas.

"I am an ethicist and I am particularly interested in these questions about the ethics of things we make," says Jaques.

In one exercise, Jaques asks his class of 30 students to play a game designed to make them think about how to achieve equity.

Jaques places a large paper bag at the front of the room. Students do not know its exact content – only that there are treats in it. And they have to find the best way to share them.

"All right, let's listen to some ideas," Jaques told the class.

A student suggests throwing everything in the bag and understanding what is going on from there. Another said that they should appoint a manager to decide what to do.

After reviewing a dozen ideas, the class decides to do so as follows: Each student is assigned a random number and is allowed to choose something based on their number once the bag is opened.

Jaques empties the bag. It turns out that it was filled with assorted pastries, including crispy rice treats and chocolate cookies.

A student has a problem: "Sorry, can we determine who is vegan here?"

The class did not take into account the different dietary needs. And that's exactly what Jacques wants students to think.

"Our system has not protected a certain important minority," she said. "So we try to build something after [to account for that]. "

Cel Skeggs, an experienced computer science student:

"I have been the person throughout the semester who has beaten the dead horse of" How does this technology affect LGBTQ people? "Skeggs said. "To the extent that some people have suggested solutions to problems, then, when this question is imposed, they say to themselves," Oh, I did not really think about it. ""

It also comes into real life. For example, some Uber transgender pilots were launched from the app when a security device could not recognize them. The feature asked drivers to take a selfie to verify their identity, but did not consider people in transition.

Srinivas Kaza, a major in computer science, says that learning about ethics has influenced the companies for which he is willing to work. "I've eliminated a lot of choices," he says with a laugh.

Kaza says that he wants to work with the technology of the image, but he is really concerned about the faked photos and the spread of misinformation. "I think it's just important not to contribute to the problem," he says.

And it is precisely for this reason that Jaques created this course – so that these students understand that ethics is essential to their work as engineers and computer scientists.

"Companies need to be better prepared because the students will ask a lot of questions," she says.