Meta’s AI Council Criticized For Excluding Women And People Of Color

Meta recently announced the formation of an AI advisory council, made up entirely of white men, sparking backlash amid the discourse around diversity and inclusion in the tech industry.

The Composition And Role Of The AI Council

This AI advisory council is distinct from Meta’s board of directors and its Oversight Board, which have more diverse gender and racial representation. 

Unlike these bodies, the AI council was not elected by shareholders and held no fiduciary duty. 

Meta told Bloomberg that the council would provide “insights and recommendations on technological advancements, innovation, and strategic growth opportunities” and meet periodically.

Interestingly, the council comprises Stripe, Shopify, and Microsoft business executives. 

This composition has raised eyebrows, as no ethicists or researchers are among them, suggesting a focus on commercial success rather than ethical AI development. 

Given the unique risks associated with AI, particularly its potential to harm marginalized groups, the absence of diverse voices is particularly concerning.

The Impact Of AI On Marginalized Communities

AI technologies have already shown a propensity to perpetuate existing biases. 

For instance, facial recognition systems often misidentify Black individuals more frequently than white individuals. 

Additionally, voice assistants need help understanding diverse accents, further marginalizing non-native English speakers. 

Dominic-Madori Davis addressed the concerns in her newsletter, writing that she was shocked by how many trolls came out and said what most people were expecting following TechCrunch’s article about the all-white AI board.

“They don’t care about diversity, about minority voices, and are tired of hearing us talk about anything that has to do with inclusion,” Davis wrote.

“There were hundreds of comments, white men and even women piling on, saying they were tired of the DEI conversation and anything that brings it back up is passe. They don’t care and they don’t have to care.”

A Call For Inclusive AI Development

The lack of diversity on Meta’s AI council underscores a broader issue in the tech industry: the exclusion of women and people of color from critical decision-making processes. 

Historical precedents, such as the exclusion of women from clinical trials until the 1970s, illustrate the detrimental effects of such exclusion. 

Today, similar biases in AI development threaten to amplify discrimination in various domains, including employment, housing, and criminal justice.

Last year, OpenAI’s board also came under fire as it had an all-male and all-white board.

Feature Image Credit: Mark Zuckerberg Photographer: Kent Nishimura/Bloomberg