Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.) convened a gathering of experts and advocates on Thursday to explore the implications of artificial intelligence (AI) on civil rights. In a panel discussion held at the Capitol, Booker expressed his enthusiasm for technology and innovation while acknowledging that technology can exacerbate discrimination.
During the panel, participants examined how AI has perpetuated inequality in mortgage lending by disproportionately denying home loans to people of color. They also discussed the discriminatory nature of AI-enabled tools used in recruiting and hiring processes, as well as how automatic systems in healthcare consistently fail to address the needs of Black patients, thereby aggravating healthcare disparities.
Furthermore, panelists highlighted instances in which AI has perpetuated biased representations, such as lightening skin tones, and discussed problematic products like ChatGPT that have disseminated stereotypes or slurs.
Damon Hewitt, the president and executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, emphasized the interconnectedness of equal opportunity, civil rights, and racial justice with technology. Hewitt underscored the high risk of discrimination posed by algorithms, which are used in numerous areas of decision-making, including bail, housing rentals, and education. These algorithms often perpetuate harm due to the inclusion of discriminatory data reflecting historical redlining and segregation practices.
Despite these challenges, the panel also explored ways in which AI can be leveraged to mitigate these issues. Suresh Venkatasubramanian, the director of the Center for Technological Responsibility, Reimagination, and Redesign at Brown University, emphasized that humans have the agency to build AI systems without racial biases.
Venkatasubramanian stated, “AI systems are very good at doing what we tell them to do. This means that once you’ve trained a system, we have to test it rigorously to ensure it aligns with our desired outcomes. Testing becomes more challenging as systems become more complex. We must scrutinize the training data, design choices, and deployment conditions to prevent any harm or discrimination. These systems possess intelligence and consciousness, enabling them to learn things that elude our comprehension.”
Fabian Rogers, a community advocate in New York, advocated for legislative safeguards concerning facial recognition software, describing it as potentially “deadly.”
The American Civil Liberties Union has also expressed concerns about facial recognition technology, warning that it could enable surveillance at protests, political rallies, and places of worship.
On Wednesday, advocates called for the enactment of an AI Bill of Rights. The White House has already released a comprehensive five-point blueprint emphasizing the need for diverse community consultation, equitable design to minimize artificial bias, data privacy protections, informed consent regarding AI system usage and impact, and the right to opt out in favor of human interaction.
Congress is currently working to pass legislation addressing these issues. Senator Booker, along with Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Representative Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.), introduced the Algorithmic Accountability Act of 2023 earlier this month. The bill aims to establish protections for individuals affected by AI systems that have already impacted housing, credit, and education.
Booker highlighted the potential of AI as a tool for identifying and rectifying implicit racial bias. He emphasized the goal of achieving a level playing field and expanding opportunities through the use of AI.
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