Cases of misidentification, mistaken identity, and propaganda
While people tend to see artificial intelligence as something cold and unfeeling, we shouldn’t mistake it for something neutral. In fact, anything created by a person is influenced by them and the society they live in. And evidence suggests there are racist implications in the widespread adoption of this technology. According to a study published in Nature, one way “language models convey covert racism” is through a “form of dialect prejudice,” where “raciolinguistic stereotypes about speakers of African American English (AAE)” are considered in decision-making processes. When used, these models contribute to Black people being “assigned less-prestigious jobs,” being “convicted of crimes” more often, and even being “sentenced to death (Hofmann et al., 2024).” Supporters of the AI movement might argue that companies have much to gain, as this technology could boost productivity and efficiency. However, there are also ethical concerns, such as who pays the price for this warm embrace of AI.
Technology itself is not inherently racist. However, even a simple household object like a rope can become a weapon, such as a noose, in the hands of someone with racist intent. White people are overrepresented among AI…
