November Topic: Democratizing AI
1 p.m. EST // 12 p.m. CST // 11 a.m. MST // 10 a.m. PST // 9 a.m. AKST
Presented in partnership with the Leagues of Women Voters of Alaska and Colorado
Our guest is Annette Zimmermann, Assistant Professor of Philosophy at the Universith of Wisconsin, author of the recent book, Democratizing AI.
AI does not exist in a moral and political vacuum. Technological models interact dynamically with the social world, including larger-scale patterns of injustice.
How we deal with this problem is a moral and a political choice.
Annette’s research explores questions like: what is algorithmic injustice, and how do its effects compound over time? What role do risk and uncertainty play in this context? What does it mean to trust AI? Whose voices should we prioritize in collective decisions about AI design and deployment—and whose voices are currently excluded? Whose rights are most at risk? How can we place AI under meaningful democratic control—and would that solve the problem of algorithmic injustice?
Suggested reading:
About the series:
Disinformation. Conspiracy theories. Extremism. Surveillance. Our democracy is threatened as never before by toxic online content. The social media giants seem unable, or in some cases unwilling, to control the flood of lies and manipulative practices. The staggering — often hidden — reach of Big Tech into our lives endangers civil society, our civil rights, and our privacy. In a "post-truth" world we risk losing the shared understanding that underpins our democracy.
Resuming our series after a year-long hiatus, we explore a different facet of this crisis with guest experts. Join us to learn, discuss, and work on possible solutions.