Context
Meta, the tech giant formerly known as Facebook, has recently formed an AI advisory council. Despite the significant advancements and applications of AI, there's been an ongoing issue with diversity and inclusion within the tech industry, especially in AI development.
Key Update
Meta announced an AI advisory council composed entirely of white men, sparking criticism about the lack of diversity. This council differs from Meta's more diverse board of directors and Oversight Board and was not elected by shareholders. It includes business executives from companies like Stripe, Shopify, and Microsoft but lacks ethicists and academic researchers. Critics argue that this homogenous group is ill-equipped to handle the complexities and ethical challenges of AI, which disproportionately affect marginalized communities. AI’s history of biases, such as facial recognition errors and the misuse of deepfake technology against women, underscores the need for diverse perspectives in AI governance.
Technical Terms
Deepfake
Synthetic media where a person in an existing image or video is replaced with someone else's likeness.
Generative AI
AI that can create content, including images, text, and videos, from scratch or based on inputs.
Relevance to New Tech Career Seekers
Understanding the ethical implications and societal impacts of AI is crucial for anyone entering the tech field. Aspiring professionals should advocate for diversity and inclusivity in tech development to ensure AI benefits all communities equally.
