Blog #2

This reading and video for this week highlights the issues with algorithmic bias. In the video by Joy Buolamwini she addresses the many ways in which a computer can be programmed to recognize certain faces, which she discovered through several facial recognition programs that had recognized the faces of white people more efficiently than black people and in most cases probably other minorities as well. The article that I read also covered similar issues but also mentioned that differentiations in men and women can be recognized as well. All of these details that an algorithm can detect can be used maliciously by companies or the people that use them hindering many opportunities such as jobs, college applications, loans, insurance and many many more. 

I have heard of these issues before, especially the mentioning of how the apple credit card has been detected offering more credit services to men over women, and I have actually heard of most of these examples and even though I understand little about algorithms, just understanding the concept and thinking ahead I can very easily see how easily this can go wrong since, as the Joy mentioned in the video, the people who make these algorithms are biased and that is reflected in the programs that they make. This I feel like is not the first time that something with good intent initially has gone awry, this has nothing to do with algorithms, but I hear a lot about the conflictions with having an alexa or a google home and how apparently through your searches I suppose some kind of algorithm is made about what ads are catered to you and what products, and im sure it goes even further than that. Now that I think about it thats an algorithm as well, but my statement still stands, yes many computer programs have a level of infallibility since as mentioned before, the people who make them have bias as well. Better awareness starts with more inclusivity and a bigger group to test and detect when bias is located and for it to be taken seriously.