AI’s social sciences deficit
Mona Sloane, co-author, is a research fellow at New York University’s Institute for Public Knowledge and an adjunct professor in the NYU Tandon Department of Technology, Society and Culture.
… Many of us enjoy the fruits of this labour, from our e-mail folder that is kept clear of spam to the improved chances we have of detecting cancer early. But AI doesn’t make everybody’s life easier or safer. There is mounting evidence that AI can exacerbate inequality, perpetuate discrimination and inflict harm. ... Technologists are increasingly looking to social scientists to help fix the problem of harmful or biased AI through a focus on ethics or safety, or to develop AI that is aligned with human values. But they would do better by making full use of the social sciences, not just embracing quantitative methods.
