For those of us lucky enough to have time off in August, it can be a time to catch up with our work selves.
In this, our August edition of the Business Book Review, you’ll find must-read review about bias in tech, plus a revealing look at the evolutionary biology behind our quirks.
More than a Glitch:
Confronting Race, Gender, and Ability Bias in Tech
by Meredith Broussard
MIT Press, 2023
Haven’t found the time yet to read Invisible Women (Caroline Criado Perez, 2019) or Weapons of Math Destruction (Cathy O’Neil, 2016)? Didn’t think the documentary “Coded Bias” could make for a compelling watch? Well, my suggestion is that you skip all this and make a beeline for Meredith Broussard’s latest book, More than a Glitch. It will provide a comprehensive understanding of where we’re at with AI—and how to control the genie, since we can’t put it back in the bottle.
Meredith Broussard is a data journalist and esteemed public intellectual (New York University) whose work focuses on investigative AI reporting and ethical AI. She is also one of the few Black women in the field of AI.
As with the other titles mentioned above, Professor Broussard’s book cites well-known biases in technology—and focuses on finding solutions. Some of the problems will be familiar: facial recognition technology is trained to recognize only lighter skin tones; mortgage-approval algorithms are designed for discriminatory lending; and medical-diagnostic algorithms are developed on insufficiently diverse data.
Even when such technologies are designed with good intentions, Broussard argues, humans development programs can have devastating consequences. Broussard writes, “Mathematical truth and social truth are fundamentally different systems of logic. Ultimately, it’s impossible to use a computer to solve every social problem. So why do so many people believe that using more technology, more computing power, will lead us to a better world?”
Broussard questions the “move fast and break things” mentality. This is Facebook’s internal motto, coined by Mark Zuckerberg and adopted by other Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, whose only goal is to get products into the hands of consumers as quickly as possible—period. “Calling something a glitch means it’s a temporary blip, something unexpected but inconsequential. A glitch can be fixed. The biases embedded in technology are more than just glitches; they’re baked in from the start. They’re structural biases, and they can’t be fixed with a quick code update.”
One of the permanent fixes Broussard favors is the practice of algorithmic auditing. Machine learning algorithms must not be viewed as black boxes with opaque decision-making processes. Instead, we need to “audit an algorithm for bias or unfairness, then evaluate and revise it to make it better.”
You don’t have to be a technology expert to read and understand More than a Glitch. I recommend the book to anyone who has ever used technology; anyone with the slightest interest in data ethics; and anyone in favor of more democratic technologies.
For more: take a look at this interview with Meredith Broussard. Also useful: the author’s first book, Artificial Unintelligence.
“Why Do We Do That?“
Ella Al-Shamahi
In the weird world of human behavior, “Why Do We Do That?” is the BBC podcast you never knew you needed. It’s hosted by Ella Al-Shamahi, an explorer, paleoanthropologist, evolutionary biologist, writer and—as if that’s not enough—stand-up comedian.
Have you ever wondered why we doom scroll endlessly? Blame it on our ancestors’ negativity. And what about shaking hands? Turns out it’s not just a greeting, but an unconscious way of gathering information about the other person—by sniffing our hands for clues, afterwards. And how about kissing? Apparently, it’s an act of harvesting genetic data to make sure we’ve found the right match!
In each episode, we’re treated to witty interviews with experts, each of whom reveals quirky behaviors (to say the least).
I must confess to sighing with relief while listening to the episode titled “Why doesn’t everyone clear up?” Finally, I had a scientific explanation for why my desk is piled, Mont Blanc-style, with books and papers.
I definitely recommend diving headfirst into this podcast. After listening to a few episodes, you’ll never again demonize your bizarre habits—or, God forbid, those of your eccentric co-workers.