Artificial Intelligence, Transparency and Accountability

05/03/22 • 41 min

In this episode we continue our conversation about AI and democracy to examine the issue of government and corporate accountability and the impact this has on democracy. We also examine the ethics of personal data mining and its use for political purposes. Do we know we are being classified and scored on a daily basis? What data is being collected from us, how is it being used, and what ethical questions does this pose? What kinds of controls might there be on the use of AI and personal data? How do we re-trace the steps of AI and make it accountable?

Joining us again is Kate Crawford a leading scholar of the social and political implications of artificial intelligence, along with Adam Nocek a leading philosopher of technology, and scientist and education leader Peter Schlosser.

We begin by exploring what we mean by ‘intelligence’ in the context of AI, because it’s clear that the term is used uncritically in many situations. Can we really say that AI is intelligent, when in the previous episode we saw how crude and unsophisticated it can be? And what are the political, ethical and democratic consequences of AI, given its clear limits and deficiencies?

Executive producers and project concept: Nicole Anderson, Julian Knowles
Series writers and researchers: Nicole Anderson, Julian Knowles
Production, sound design, and original music: Julian Knowles
Project funders/supporters: The Institute for Humanities Research, Arizona State University. PBS: Public Broadcasting Service
Visit us online at https://futuresofdemocracy.com/

Previous Episode

Artificial Intelligence and Automated Decision Making

In this episode we explore the impacts of artificial intelligence and automated decision making on democracy. In what ways do AI and algorithmic decision making systems impact the human rights of citizens and reinforce social inequality? Does AI shape our perceptions of the world and is this a democratic problem? What are the ethical issues and problems with AI and what accountabilities might governments have to citizens in their roll out of AI to assist in governing society? Joining us for this episode is Kate Crawford. one of the world's leading experts on the social, political, and material aspects of AI. Kate is the author of the book 'Atlas of AI' out now on Yale University Press.
Executive producers and project concept: Nicole Anderson, Julian Knowles
Series writers and researchers: Nicole Anderson, Julian Knowles
Production, sound design, and original music: Julian Knowles
Project funders/supporters: The Institute for Humanities Research, Arizona State University. PBS: Public Broadcasting Service
Visit us online at https://futuresofdemocracy.com/

Next Episode

Civility: 'We the People'

What does it mean to be a citizen in a democracy? What are our rights and responsibilities and how do ‘the people’ keep governments accountable? Peaceful protest is one means and a sign of healthy democracies. Where is the line between peaceful protest and civil disobedience? Did the storming of the Capitol in the USA cross that line?
Executive producers and project concept: Nicole Anderson, Julian Knowles
Series writers and researchers: Nicole Anderson, Julian Knowles
Production, sound design, and original music: Julian Knowles
Project funders/supporters: The Institute for Humanities Research, Arizona State University. PBS: Public Broadcasting Service
Visit us online at https://futuresofdemocracy.com/

The Futures of Democracy - Artificial Intelligence, Transparency and Accountability

Transcript

The Futures of Democracy Podcast – Series 1, EP 3 'Artificial Intelligence, Transparency and Accountability
Presenters: Julian Knowles and Nicole AndersonGuests: Kate Crawford, Adam Nocek, Peter SchlosserPublisher: PBS - Public Broadcasting Service

Nicole Anderson (VO)

Welcome to the Futures