Racial bias in technology

During the session prof. Benjamin illustrated the various  racial biases in technology and artificial intelligence, and discussed relevant examples ‘closer to home’ such as The Dutch benefits scandal.

Beyond technology, she also highlighted the wider underlying issue of biases in representation that are reflected in technological designs such as healthcare applications. Examples ranged from popular culture to training methods of police officers in the US doing shooting target practice using pictures of Black men, ‘By making small changes, which can add up to large ones, one can transform relationships and communities,’ prof. Benjamin says. To take the police as an example, counter-narratives popped-up on social media. White people were taking their own headshots and publishing them online with the hashtag "#usemeinstead". These small actions, speak up against racial bias, and can make the world a more just and joyful place step by step.

Find your own plot

Prof. Benjamin stressed the importance of speaking up and making changes for yourself  that could spread virally and have exponentially positive effects. She ended with an invitation to understand ourselves as "pattern makers" and to find our own plot where we can make a difference.