The award winning documentary Coded Bias explores how machine-learning algorithms can perpetuate society’s existing class-, race-, and gender-based inequities.

While working on an assignment involving facial-recognition software, the M.I.T. Media Lab researcher Joy Buolamwini found that the algorithm couldn’t detect her face — until she put on a white mask. As she recounts in the documentary “Coded Bias,” Buolamwini soon discovered that most such artificial-intelligence programs are trained to identify patterns based on data sets that skew light-skinned and male. “When you think of A.I., it’s forward-looking,” she says. “But A.I. is based on data, and data is a reflection of our history.” “Coded Bias” tackles its sprawling subject by zeroing in empathetically on the human costs.

“Coded Bias” examines algorithmic bias as a modern civil rights issue, and sheds light on privacy and equity issues related to increasing reliance on artificial intelligence.

Registration required. A link to view the film will be sent out starting 1/25 which will be available to view anytime until 1/28.

Panelists Bios:

Professor Neda Atanasoski of the Humanities Institute Center for Racial Justice

Professor A.M. Darke of Digital Arts and New Media (DANM)

Professor Jody Greene of Center for Innovations in Teaching and Learning (CITL)

Watch the trailer: https://www.codedbias.com/about

Film screening (1h 30m) and panel discussion sponsored by UCSC’s Privacy Office and Office for Diversity Equity and Inclusion.