Describes limitations and shortfalls of current digital technologies, particularly when compared to human capabilities.
Limitations of Digital Technologies (21)
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- 7 min
- VentureBeat
- 2021
New research and code was released in early 2021 to demonstrate that the training data for Natural Language Processing algorithms is not as robust as it could be. The project, Robustness Gym, allows researchers and computer scientists to approach training data with more scrutiny, organizing this data and testing the results of preliminary runs through the algorithm to see what can be improved upon and how.
- VentureBeat
- 2021
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- 7 min
- VentureBeat
- 2021
Salesforce researchers release framework to test NLP model robustness
New research and code was released in early 2021 to demonstrate that the training data for Natural Language Processing algorithms is not as robust as it could be. The project, Robustness Gym, allows researchers and computer scientists to approach training data with more scrutiny, organizing this data and testing the results of preliminary runs through the algorithm to see what can be improved upon and how.
Discussion Prompts:
What does “robustness” in a natural language processing algorithm mean to you? Should machines always be taught to automatically associate certain words or terms? What are the consequences of large corporations not using the most robust training data for their NLP algorithms?
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- 6 min
- Vox
- 2020
Even virtual realities with unrealistic yet believable graphics are able to fool the brain’s sense of perception into believing that the digital environment still operates under the same rules as the real world. Connecting the technologies directly to one’s senses is more immersive than looking at a screen; although human brains have been able to process flat images for a long time, the direct sight connection to two screens with virtual reality makes perception a bit more muddled.
- Vox
- 2020
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- 6 min
- Vox
- 2020
How Virtual Reality Tricks Your Brain
Even virtual realities with unrealistic yet believable graphics are able to fool the brain’s sense of perception into believing that the digital environment still operates under the same rules as the real world. Connecting the technologies directly to one’s senses is more immersive than looking at a screen; although human brains have been able to process flat images for a long time, the direct sight connection to two screens with virtual reality makes perception a bit more muddled.
Discussion Prompts:
Should virtual reality ever reach a point where it is indistinguishable from true reality in terms of graphic design or other sensory information? How could such technology be weaponized or abused? How accessible should the most immersive virtual reality technologies be to the general public?
How Virtual Reality Tricks Your Brain: How Virtual Reality Tricks Your Brain-
- 7 min
- MIT Technology Review
- 2020
This article details a new approach emerging in AI science; instead of using 16 bits to represent pieces of data which train an algorithm, a logarithmic scale can be used to reduce this number to four, which is more efficient in terms of time and energy. This may allow machine learning algorithms to be trained on smartphones, enhancing user privacy. Otherwise, this may not change much in the AI landscape, especially in terms of helping machine learning reach new horizons.
- MIT Technology Review
- 2020
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- 7 min
- MIT Technology Review
- 2020
Tiny four-bit computers are now all you need to train AI
This article details a new approach emerging in AI science; instead of using 16 bits to represent pieces of data which train an algorithm, a logarithmic scale can be used to reduce this number to four, which is more efficient in terms of time and energy. This may allow machine learning algorithms to be trained on smartphones, enhancing user privacy. Otherwise, this may not change much in the AI landscape, especially in terms of helping machine learning reach new horizons.
Discussion Prompts:
Does more efficiency mean more data would be wanted or needed? Would that be a good thing, a bad thing, or potentially both?
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- 4 min
- VentureBeat
- 2020
A study on the engine of TaskRabbit, an app which uses an algorithm to recommend the best workers for a specific task, demonstrates that even algorithms which attempt to account for fairness and parity in representation can fail to provide what they promise depending on different contexts.
- VentureBeat
- 2020
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- 4 min
- VentureBeat
- 2020
Researchers Find that Even Fair Hiring Algorithms Can Be Biased
A study on the engine of TaskRabbit, an app which uses an algorithm to recommend the best workers for a specific task, demonstrates that even algorithms which attempt to account for fairness and parity in representation can fail to provide what they promise depending on different contexts.
Discussion Prompts:
Can machine learning ever be enacted in a way that fully gets rid of human bias? Is bias encoded into every trained machine learning program? What does the ideal circumstance look like when using digital technologies and machine learning to reach a point of equitable representation in hiring?
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- 1 min
- Kinolab
- 2019
In an imagined future of London, citizens all across the globe are connected to the Feed, a device and network accessed constantly through a brain-computer interface. Eric is able to use Biometrics to keep Evelyn and Max hostage and get high-level access to the Feed hub. This highlights an example of how computerized security systems might not be able to pick up on hostage situations or forced activity. The Biometrics can recognize their faces, but is unable to pick up on the ‘distress’ visible on Max and Evelyn’s faces that indicate they are in trouble.
- Kinolab
- 2019
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- 1 min
- Kinolab
- 2019
Limitations of Biometrics
In an imagined future of London, citizens all across the globe are connected to the Feed, a device and network accessed constantly through a brain-computer interface. Eric is able to use Biometrics to keep Evelyn and Max hostage and get high-level access to the Feed hub. This highlights an example of how computerized security systems might not be able to pick up on hostage situations or forced activity. The Biometrics can recognize their faces, but is unable to pick up on the ‘distress’ visible on Max and Evelyn’s faces that indicate they are in trouble.
Discussion Prompts:
Should biometrics be totally trusted with security measures? What sorts of shortfalls of this approach are demonstrated in this narrative?
Movie Title:
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- 5 min
- CNN
- 2010
Algorithms and machines can struggle with facial recognition, and need ideal source images to perform it consistently. However, its potential use in monitoring and identifying citizens is concerning.
- CNN
- 2010
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- 5 min
- CNN
- 2010
Why face recognition isn’t scary — yet
Algorithms and machines can struggle with facial recognition, and need ideal source images to perform it consistently. However, its potential use in monitoring and identifying citizens is concerning.
Discussion Prompts:
How have the worries regarding facial recognition changed since 2010? Can we teach machines to identify human faces? How can facial recognition pose a danger/worry when use for governmental purposes?