To most of us, it seems like recent developments in artificial intelligence emerged out of nowhere to pose unprecedented threats to humankind. But to Dr. Joy Buolamwini, who has been at the forefront of AI ethics research, this moment has been a long time in the making. Join Dr. Buolamwini and John Palfrey, President of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, at Chicago Humanities as they go beyond the headlines about existential risks produced by Big Tech and uncover what Dr. Buolamwini calls “the coded gaze”—the evidence of encoded discrimination and exclusion in tech products-explored in her organization, the Algorithmic Justice League. Applying an intersectional lens to both the tech industry and the research sector, Dr. Buolamwini shows how racism, sexism, colorism, and ableism can overlap and render broad swaths of humanity “excoded” and therefore vulnerable in a world rapidly adopting AI tools. Computers, she reminds us, are reflections of both the aspirations and the limitations of the people who create them.

A book signing will follow this program.

• This program is presented as part of the NielsenIQ Series on Artificial Intelligence.The Festival's Social Justice & Equity Series is generously underwritten by Allstate and ITW.
• Chicago Humanities is pleased to partner with the Seminary Co-op Bookstores, a Chicago not-for-profit bookstore whose mission is bookselling. Pre-order your copy of Unmasking AI through the Chicago Humanities Box Office and save 20% while supporting local, independent bookselling. Add books to your cart when adding tickets. Your receipt will contain a book voucher, which you will show to the bookseller on-site to pick up your book(s).
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