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Engineering LibreTexts

Wrap Up

  • Page ID
    113183
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    Key Takeaways

    • Algorithms are not neutral; they can encode biases present in their training data or in the values of their designers, affecting decisions in areas like criminal justice, healthcare, and employment.

    • The lack of standardized definitions for algorithmic fairness and the absence of regulatory oversight make it difficult to hold companies and organizations accountable for biased or harmful algorithms.

    • Transparency in algorithmic decision-making is complicated by factors such as trade secrets, complexity, and the potential for system manipulation.

    • Journalists, in collaboration with academics and whistleblowers, have become important watchdogs in auditing algorithms, but there is a need for formal governance structures.

    Exercises

    1. Discuss a real-world example of algorithmic bias and explore how it could be mitigated. What challenges would you anticipate in implementing these changes?

    2. Conduct a mock audit of a hypothetical algorithm used for job recruitment. What criteria would you use to assess its fairness and accountability?

    3. Debate the pros and cons of algorithmic decision-making in a specific sector (e.g., healthcare, criminal justice, or advertising). How do you weigh the benefits of efficiency and scale against the risks of bias and lack of accountability.


    This page titled Wrap Up is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by J.J. Sylvia IV (Remixing Open Textbooks with an Equity Lens (ROTEL)) .

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