| domain | ethicaldesign.guide |
| summary | Dr. Timnit Gebru's article, "Big Tech, and the AI Ethics Smokescreen," discusses the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI), ethics, and racism within tech giants like Google. The author highlights that despite these companies' commitment to ethical AI practices, their policies often overlook systemic racism in AI development and deployment. She argues that while companies may publicly emphasize diversity and inclusion, the reality is that underrepresentation of diverse perspectives—particularly those from Black and Brown communities—leads to biased AI systems. This, in turn, perpetuates and exacerbates existing social inequalities, creating an "AI ethics smokescreen" where superficial commitments mask deeper issues.
The article emphasizes the need for more inclusive decision-making processes involving diverse voices to effectively address and mitigate AI bias caused by racial disparities. Dr. Gebru calls for a more radical approach in redesigning these tech companies, moving beyond tokenistic efforts towards systemic change that prioritizes ethical considerations at every stage of AI development.
In contrast, the article "Excluding non-binary people by design: How sign-up forms can lead to discrimination" focuses on the LGBTQIA+ community's struggle for inclusion in digital spaces, particularly through sign-up forms and user interfaces. The piece explores how traditional binary-based systems (e.g., male/female) often exclude or marginalize non-binary identities, reinforcing societal norms and limiting representation. This exclusion can lead to a lack of accessibility for non-binary users, impacting their experience with digital platforms and services.
The article advocates for a more inclusive design approach that goes beyond binary options in sign-up forms. It calls for tech companies to adopt gender-neutral language, provide diverse selection choices (including non-binary), and ensure user preferences can accurately reflect their identities. This shift not only improves the user experience but also aligns with ethical principles of inclusivity and respect for diverse identities in digital spaces.
In summary, while both articles address discrimination through technology, they differ in focus: Gebru's article examines AI bias stemming from racial underrepresentation in tech, whereas the second article highlights how exclusionary design (e.g., binary-only sign-up forms) impacts non-binary individuals within digital platforms. Both pieces emphasize the importance of inclusive practices and thoughtful design to mitigate discrimination and promote equitable access in technology. |
| title | Ethical Design Guide |
| description | Tech is always political. The way data is collected and handled is often biased, and many products are neither accessible nor inclusive. Ethical Design Guide is made to share resources on how to create ethical products that don't cause harm. |
| keywords | article, design, racism, resources, accessibility, anti, race, ethics, binary, asian, book, library, guide, newsletter, equity, tech, products |
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| nslookup | A 35.157.26.135, A 63.176.8.218 |
| created | 2025-11-09 |
| updated | 2025-11-09 |
| summarized | 2025-11-12 |
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