While not surprised, I was deeply appalled when I read Dr Abeba Birhane’s retelling of how AI for Good Summit censored her keynote speech at the last minute:
I was invited to deliver a keynote speech at the ‘AI for Good Summit’ this year, and I arrived at the venue with an open mind and hope for change. With a title “AI for social good: the new face of technosolutionism” and an abstract that clearly outlines the need to question what “good” is and the importance of confronting power, it wouldn’t be difficult to guess what my keynote plans to address. I had hoped my invitation to the Summit was a beginning of engaging in critical self-reflection for the community. However, my experience at the Summit has made me realise that the Summit is not only a ‘faux good’, but it is also a threat to freedom of speech, industry accountability, and genuine social good.
It was a classic case of “don’t say that because it’ll make us look bad” through the gaze of capitalism and maintain continued funding. It also serves as a reminder that “ethical AI” or “AI for good” is more of a misnomer by the day.
Filed under: Black women ethics racism