Smart Software Developers Need to Up Their Training Regimen
June 19, 2020
Oh, the irony. The Next Web reports, “Microsoft’s AI Editor Uses Photo of Wrong Mixed-Race Popstar in Story About Racism.” Not a good look, Microsoft. The brief write-up tells us:
“According to The Guardian, Microsoft software used to replace the human journalists running news site MSN.com confused two mixed-race members of British pop group Little Mix. In an MSN.com article headlined ‘Little Mix star Jade Thirlwall says she faced horrific racism at school’, the software mistakenly picked a photo of Thirwall’s fellow band member Leigh-Anne Pinnock. MSN.com has since replaced the incorrect image. The outlet’s remaining human staff have been warned that the software could automatically publish the Guardian’s article again, and told to remove the story when it does. However, they were also informed that their AI overlord could overrule their attempts to delete it.”
That warning is mildly disturbing. That Skynet-like point aside, MSN is facing scrutiny for the display of bias. Thirwall called it out for the mix-up on Instagram, noting it is one that happens so often it has “become a running joke.”
One may conclude this is one job we should leave to human editors, but they tend to make similar mistakes. In fact, we’re reminded, AI’s inability to distinguish between individuals of color reflects its training at the hands of mostly white developers. Microsoft plans to replace the AI that made the error with a newer version—as it replaces dozens of human workers with the same software. Let us hope this iteration is better trained.
Cynthia Murrell, June 19, 2020
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