1.Students apply social (ethical) scientific vocabulary, concepts, and theoretical perspectives to social issues as appropriate to the discipline.
2.Students analyze one or more ethical/social issues using basic principles of the discipline.
3.Students examine how their identities, experiences, contexts and perspectives relate to one or more social issues and/or disciplinary specific methodologies.
Task: You will choose one current (within the past two years) ethical issue of interest to you, and locate three news articles from reliable sources that discuss this issue. Then, you will write a brief essay explaining the relevance of this issue to your own life, and what you learn about the movement from reading journalistic sources.
Provide a brief (no more than half page) description of the issue.
Describe, in about one page, what we learn about the issue from reading your news articles.
Analyze connections between course material and your personal experience (about one page each).
Provide an in-depth explanation of how this issue is relevant to your own life, explicitly using one or more concepts from our class.
Follow conventions of formal academic writing in English.
Follow basic essay structure (introduction, thesis statement, roadmap, topic sentences, conclusion, etc.).
Be carefully proofread for spelling, punctuation, grammar, and other mechanical errors.
Be formatted according to the guidelines in the syllabus.
Include proper MLA/ APA-style in-text citations and a references list in MLA/APA format.
Use a minimum of three news articles from reliable, credible sources.
See the Media Bias Chart Links to an external site.for one way to identify reliable news sources. Please do not use sites below the middle horizontal line (32.00 on the y-axis).
Full Answer Section
What We Learn About the Issue from News Articles
- Article 1: "AI Bias in Hiring: How AI Systems Can Discriminate Against Job Applicants" (Wired, 2023) This article discusses how AI systems used in hiring can discriminate against job applicants based on their race, gender, or other factors. The article provides examples of how AI systems have been used to screen out job applicants from certain groups, even if those applicants were qualified for the job.
- Article 2: "AI Bias in Criminal Justice: How AI Systems Can Discriminate Against Defendants" (The New York Times, 2023) This article discusses how AI systems used in criminal justice can discriminate against defendants. The article provides examples of how AI systems have been used to predict recidivism, and how these predictions have been used to sentence defendants to longer prison terms, even if those defendants were not a risk to reoffend.
- Article 3: "AI Bias in Healthcare: How AI Systems Can Discriminate Against Patients" (STAT News, 2023) This article discusses how AI systems used in healthcare can discriminate against patients. The article provides examples of how AI systems have been used to diagnose diseases, and how these diagnoses have been less accurate for patients of color than for white patients.
Connections Between Course Material and Personal Experience
In our class, we have learned about the importance of ethics in AI development and deployment. We have also learned about the different ways that AI bias can occur. My personal experience with AI bias is limited, but I am aware that it is a real problem that can have serious consequences for people.
One way that I have personally experienced AI bias is through social media algorithms. I have noticed that the social media platforms that I use often show me content that is similar to the content that I have already viewed. This can lead to a filter bubble, where I am only exposed to information that confirms my existing beliefs.
Another way that I have personally experienced AI bias is through targeted advertising. I have noticed that I am often targeted with ads for products and services that are stereotypically associated with my gender and age. This can be frustrating and make me feel like I am being judged.
Relevance of the Issue to My Own Life
AI bias is relevant to my own life in a number of ways. As a student, I am concerned about how AI bias could affect my job search. I am also concerned about how AI bias could affect my access to healthcare and other essential services.
One specific concept from our class that is relevant to AI bias is the concept of algorithmic fairness. Algorithmic fairness is the principle that AI systems should be fair and unbiased in their decision-making. There are a number of different approaches to algorithmic fairness, but one common approach is to ensure that AI systems are trained on data that is representative of the population that they will be used to serve.
AI bias is a complex issue, but it is one that we need to address. AI systems are becoming increasingly powerful and influential, and it is important to ensure that they are used in a fair and ethical way.
Conclusion
AI bias is a serious ethical issue that has the potential to harm people in a variety of ways. It is important to be aware of AI bias and to work to mitigate it. We can do this by supporting the development of fair and ethical AI systems, and by advocating for policies that promote fairness and equity in the use of AI.
Sample Answer
Ethical Issue: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Bias
Brief Description of the Issue
AI bias is a growing concern as AI systems are increasingly used in a wide range of applications, from hiring decisions to criminal justice. AI bias can occur when AI systems are trained on data that is biased or incomplete. This can lead to AI systems making decisions that are unfair or discriminatory.