What are the contexts in which we are vulnerable – and may be unaware – of being discriminated against by artificial intelligence technology? And are there areas in which we are going in the right direction?
Artificial intelligence (AI) is central to the ongoing digitalisation of our society. It is used to influence both minor and major decisions in our lives and has an impact on everything from which Netflix – series you choose to watch to whether you get a loan, whether you will be invited to a job interview or whether your application to NAV is successful.
The use of AI may contribute to improving or worsening equality. AI may result in discrimination, for instance, in areas linked to the hiring of people or the calculation of insurance premiums. In addition, the requirements on the user for digital competence may lead to a loss of rights and increased social inequality for those who do not possess the necessary digital competence.
In the Government’s national strategy for artificial intelligence, it is stated that artificial intelligence systems shall facilitate inclusion, diversity, and equality, but how does this work in practice? We are not really prepared for the new technology’s consequences for equality, and we are just starting research in this field in Norway (Kilden Kjønnsforskning, 2020). At the Centre for Gender and Equality, we wish to put AI, research, and digitalisation on the agenda. In the future, we will establish dialogues with various research environments concerning digitalisation and artificial intelligence from a broad equality perspective. Our aim is to be a professional body that can offer assistance with the equality perspective of artificial intelligence.
Courses
Please contact us for a non-binding offer if you are interested in workshops, courses, information or seminars on this topic.
MA scholarships
We announce scholarships to UiA students who will write their theses on themes related to equality and diversity. We need more knowledge about artificial intelligence and equality and, therefore, wish that more students write their theses within this research area. Read more about MA – scholarships here (In Norwegian).