Op-Ed: A few things you need to know about AI
I recently stumbled upon an article about seven talented Thomasville Bulldog Cheerleaders who were honored as all-Americans and were fundraising to attend the prestigious Cheez It Bowl in Hawaii. An AI based news company listed it as news for Davidson County, NC.
However, upon further investigation, I discovered that the description was not entirely accurate. These accomplished cheerleaders actually participated in a United Cheer Association Camp in Florida, as they are based in Thomasville, Georgia. Yes, their mascot is also the bulldog, and they use red as the primary color; it could get confusing.
I spoke with several friends who were also misled. This serves as a reminder to exercise caution when encountering information, as AI technology has been known to provide misleading or incorrect data. This seems harmless, but it could be dangerous.
A notable example of AI shortcomings is illustrated in a report by The New York Times, where facial recognition technology resulted in the wrongful arrest of a pregnant woman in Detroit. This case underscores the potential risks associated with the use of unregulated and inadequately tested AI based technologies.
In an op-ed, Christina Swarns of The Innocence Project highlights the case of Porcha Woodruff. Woodruff was eight months pregnant when she was arrested for carjacking. Detroit police used facial recognition technology to compare an image of the carjacking suspect with a mugshot database, and Woodruff’s photo was among those identified.
Woodruff, an aesthetician and nursing student getting her two daughters ready for school, was shocked to be told by officers that she was being arrested for a crime she didn't commit. She was questioned for 11 hours at the Detroit Detention Center.
A month later, the prosecutor dropped the case against her.
Swarns writes, "Woodruff’s experience illustrates the real risk posed to innocent people by advanced artificial intelligence-based technology, such as the facial recognition software in her case. This risk is especially concerning when such technology is not rigorously tested or regulated before being used."
Newspapers deal with AI on a daily basis. The Tow Report from the Columbia School of Journalism outlines the pros and cons of "Artificial Intelligence in the News" and how AI is reshaping journalism and the public arena.
The report discusses the challenges and benefits of AI but also emphasizes the need for the industry to consider the future impacts on journalism. It points out that despite the growing interest, the effects of AI on the news industry and our information environment, especially the public arena, are not well understood. The report also highlights the lack of attention paid to the implications of the news industry's reliance on technology companies for AI.
I still plan to support the cheerleaders in Georgia. However, these and many other severe cases confirm the need for regulations to examine our reliance on AI. This also emphasizes the necessity of local reporters and support for local news. Nothing can replace the impact of community knowledge and insight.
