In this WIRED piece, Max G. Levy recaps the conversation Timnit Gebru had on November 9th with WIRED senior writer Tom Simonite on how AI research can work to mitigate biases. The former Google researcher was ousted from the major technology company after voicing concerns over the speed at which AI was being produced without adequate controls for biases. Fundamentally, Gebru believes AI should slow down so researchers can “try to understand and try to limit the negative societal impacts of AI.”
As the article discusses, one of the largest barriers facing AI governance and oversight is the question over where to place responsibility for biases and abnormalities. As discussed in Issue 10 of our newsletter, conversations on corporate responsibility and artificial intelligence have been on the rise. Across industries, regulators are beginning to recognize that blaming the machine may no longer be acceptable.