Newspaper Page Text
BUSINESS
THE CHAMPION, THURSDAY, MARCH 7 - 13, 2024 • PAGE 13
Experts explore impact of Al on
Black and Brown communities
Keynote speaker Arun Rai addresses the audience at the Al 101 Listening Session in south DeKalb County.
Photo by Kathy Mitchell
BY KATHY MITCHELL
FREELANCE REPORTER
A recent survey by
online trade magazine
Digiday indicated that more
than 80 percent of brands
are using some form of
artificial intelligence (Al)—
the gathering and use of
information by machines
rather than humans. But
are certain communities
impacted differently from
others by the use of Al? That
was the topic of discussion
at a gathering called "Al
101 Listening Session:
Addressing Disparities
in Black and Brown
Communities" held Feb. 24
at New Life Church and New
Life Community Alliance on
Flat Shoals Road in Decatur.
South DeKalb
Improvement Association
Education (SDIAE) in
collaboration with Lonnie
Johnson's STEM Center
and other organizations in
metro Atlanta sponsored
a two-hour session
to which they invited
experts from academia,
industry, and community
sectors to present their
unique perspectives and
experiences related to Black
and Brown communities in
the evolving landscape of Al.
"Al is not a recent
concept; it has roots dating
back to early civilizations
but underwent a significant
transformation in 1956,"
noted the session organizers
in their announcement
of the session. "The term
'artificial intelligence' was
coined at the Dartmouth
Workshop, where
researchers convened to
explore the potential of
creating machines capable
of emulating human
intelligence."
Taking what he termed
a "broad strokes" approach
to the subject, keynote
speaker Arun Rai, Regents'
professor of the University
System of Georgia and
holder of the Howard S.
Starks Distinguished Chair
at the Robinson College of
Business at Georgia State
University, explained that
Al systems draw from huge
amounts of data. "They
don't create anything new.
They make predictions and
reach conclusions from
what already exists. If the
data is skewed in a certain
way, the conclusions from
it will have the same flaw.
If, for example, a human
resources program is
asked to predict the sort of
person who will be most
successful in a certain
position and its data sees a
disproportionate number
of successful White men
having held the position—
simply because others were
underrepresented in the
past—it will draw the false
conclusion that women and
minority group members
will not do well."
Urging that "the baby
not be thrown out with the
bath water," Rai added that
there are many functions
that Al performs faster
and sometimes better that
humans such as computing,
detecting, and gaming and
that the entire society may
benefit from the application
of those functions.
"There will be some
rotten data," said panel
member Muhsinah Holms
Morris, who is director
of Morehouse College's
Metaversity project.
"Social media has shone
a light on who we are as
human beings. We now
know that there are those
who deliberately misuse
information or even put
false information out
for their own purposes.
Al systems can't tell the
difference between that and
actual facts."
Charles Pierre, a data
scientist and analytics
professional, said that each
time there is a technological
innovation it is necessary to
look at how everyone—not
just a majority—is affected.
"It's not easy," panel
member Pierre noted, "but
it's rewarding. It's something
that everyone who teaches
Black and Brown students
should be sensitive to."
Another panel member,
professor, and business
architect Henry Whitlow,
said that it's important to
assure that Black and Brown
voices are amplified as
technology advances, "We
need more data about us,
by us, and with which we
control the narrative. Al
allows us to do remarkable
things, but we mustn't allow
it to override human input.
It's a piece of equipment like
a toaster. You would never
allow a toaster to make
decisions for you."
Asia Demmer, a
computer science student
at Georgia Tech and a panel
member, pointed out that
because Al can enable small
businesses, which many
minority-owned companies
are, to do more with fewer
resources, Al can improve
their ability to compete. "It
can actually help level the
playing field," she said.
YINGO (ID# 54600285)
Yingo (ID# 54600285) is full of
playful energy and loves to have fun in
the yard and run around. He's in love
with EVERY toy and EVERY ball and
will happily run from one to the next!
After some happy running, Yingo likes
to check in for some cuddles and head
scratches, and then he will be ready to
go-go-go again! You've hit BINGO with
YINGO! Come meet this awesome hunk
today!
Expand your family by 4 furry
little feet; meet Yingo and have a
loving friend forever. All adoptions
include spay/neuter, vaccinations and
microchip! If you would like more
information about Yingo or if you have
questions about adopting, fostering or
volunteering please email adoption®
dekalbanimalservices.com or call (404)
294-2165; all potential adopters will
be screened to ensure Yingo goes to a
good home.
The shelter is full; foster or adopt
Services. We are located at 3280 Cham- | | |
blee Dunwoody Road, Chamblee GA -j—
30341 or give us a call at 404-294-2996.
No appointment necessary.
