On C.L.Ai.R.A. and Tech Bias in the United States
Move over Siri and Alexa…C.L.Ai.R.A . has arrived!
Meet C.L.Ai.R.A. - the first Afro-Latina artificial intelligence (AI).
“…C.L.Ai.R.A. is considered to have the sharpest brain in the artificial intelligence world…[and]is an autoregressive language model that uses deep learning to produce human-like text,” (Black Enterprise). C.L.Ai.R.A was created by Create Lab Ventures, a tech company that provides underserved communities with the skills, resources, and networks needed to thrive in tech and media.
The hope is that with C.L.Ai.R.A.’s debut in classrooms across the United States, young people of color will be inspired and uplifted.
It is important to note that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a core theme in any STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) curriculum.
According to Pew Research Center, “Black and Hispanic adults [which C.L.Ai.R.A. is supposedly modeled after] are less likely to earn degrees in STEM than other degree fields, and they continue to make up a lower share of STEM graduates relative to their share of the adult population,” and women only account for a small share of degree earners in fields like engineering and computer science “areas where they are significantly underrepresented in the work force.”
So is C.L.Ai.R.A. enough to counter the “histories and ongoing forms of deeply embedded discrimination, bias, racism,” and white insecurity, that infect U.S. institutions and systems, including technology?
In her interview with Counterspin, Ruha Benjamin, the author of Race After Technology: Abolitionist Tools for the New Jim Code, makes it clear that technology “is not, in fact, objective in the way we are being socialized to believe.”
Counterspin Interviewer, Janine Jackson, offered this example to better illustrate the lack of objectivity, or rather how the implicit biases of the larger society can affect technological outputs, including AI:
“If police are deployed disproportionately to poor communities of color [because of discrimination and racism], then that’s where they make the most arrests. So if you fill a database with that, and then you say, you know, ‘Alexa, where is the most crime, based on the number of arrests?’ Well, it’s going to circle you right back to the data that you fed it, and it’s only predictive because you make it so.”
The Pew Research Center maintains that “the long-term outlook for diversity in the STEM workforce is closely tied to representation in the STEM educational system,” of which C.L.Ai.R.A. of course would be seen as an asset for representation.
However, according to Massive Science’s report on data from the National Science Foundation:
“The share of STEM-field bachelor’s degrees awarded to Black students peaked in the early 2000s and has been falling ever since — despite increasing federal spending on STEM diversity initiatives….
Precisely what is driving the decline is a matter of some debate. Some experts pointed to persistent income inequality and the disproportionate lack of access to quality schools among Black and other minority communities. Others argued that outreach efforts, peer mentoring, and other programs aimed at fostering interest in the sciences among Black students have dwindled, causing enrollments to plummet. But several education and legal professionals also pointed to a more straightforward and sobering correlation: The steady downturn in STEM degrees among Black students, they say, comes in the wake of a large-scale retreat from specific programs and policies that consider race in admissions, recruitment, and retention in higher education — policies commonly known as affirmative action.”
From a Development standpoint, it is suffice to say that likely all of those factors contribute to the current state of bias that can be found in the U.S. tech world.
It remains to be seen if C.L.Ai.R.A.’s introduction to the STEM educational system will have the positive impact her creators are hoping for, and can help to reverse the downward trend of Black and Hispanic/Latinx people in STEM.
While we can hope it is a step in the right direction, there are still several other factors (e.g. lack of quality schools, etc.) that need to be addressed in order for there to be significant and long-lasting change.
September is Suicide Prevention Month
If you’ve lived long enough, then you’ve probably been affected by the news of someone’s passing by suicide. Maybe it was a loved one, whether a family member or a close friend. Maybe you were shocked to hear the passing of a celebrity like Robin Williams, Shoki Mokgapa, Lee Thompson Young, Jarrid Wilson, or Anthony Bourdain.
According to the World Health Organization, suicide is the 17th leading cause of death worldwide, the 10th most common cause of death in the United States, and the 2nd leading cause of death among young people ages 10 to 34 years old (CDC).
Every 40 seconds, someone loses their life to suicide. But unlike other leading causes of death, suicide is 100% preventable.
Suicide occurs across all demographics (e.g. age, gender, education-level, etc.) and mental illness is but one of a myriad of other catalysts that can lead a person to consider suicide, others include:
Relationship problems
Stress from financial, legal or other issues
Substance abuse
Job situation
Bullying
Discrimination
Violence
And for every successful suicide attempt, there are 25 attempts that are unsuccessful.
How You Can Help
First, if you are someone who is having thoughts about harming yourself, know that help is available.
You are not alone.
If you want to talk by text, then text HELLO to the Crisis Line (open a new text message and type in 741741). OR call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Both services are free and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Pain isn’t always obvious. People can feel isolated and alone even when they are around family and friends.
And sometimes, even those of us with great intentions, may not know the best way to reach out to someone we are concerned about.
So what can be done?
Our answer is to lead with listening and sincerity. Check-in with the people in your community. If you see warning signs and have concerns, be direct:
“How are you coping with what's been happening in your life?”
“Does it ever get so tough that you think about hurting yourself?”
And if a person tells you they are thinking about suicide, tell them that help is available and reassure them that they are not alone and that you’re going to get through this together:
“I hear that you’re struggling. I love you no matter what. We’re going to get through this together. Right now, I think we should talk to someone who can help you get through this.”
Suicide Prevention Week
To raise awareness around suicide prevention, Findlay House Global is observing the National Week of Suicide Prevention (September 5th - 11th, 2021) and World Suicide Prevention Day (Friday 10 September 2021) with a week of challenges shared via social media to fuel awareness and educate as many people as possible, because suicide is 100% preventable.
Join the challenge! And click on an image to download it and share it to social media. Or click here to download all the images.
Suicide and Development
Suicide is a serious public health problem. And to address it we must consider the contributing factors (including economic and environmental stressors) that impact the mental and emotional well-being of communities.
The field of Development is concerned with using resources to improve the standard of living and well-being of people. And although in the U.S. $247 billion is spent on mental wellness for youth and their families, marginalized youth are less likely to receive care for their depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Young people who are also exposed to violence and racial discrimination are at even greater risk for suicidal thoughts and attempts. Because of the stigma around mental health, marginalized youth often wait until they are suicidal before they seek help. Thus, supportive environments in the family, at school and in the wider community are of critical importance.
Number 3 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals is to “Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all, at all ages.” And one of the targets (Target 3.4) is to reduce premature mortality by one third, including through prevention, treatment, and promotion of mental health and well-being.
In The News: The Taliban Take Over Afghanistan
On Sunday, 15 August, 2021 U.S. backed Afghan President Ashraf Ghani fled Afghanistan resulting in the official and uncontested take over of the country by the Taliban - a militant group.
Many of us watched in horror yesterday (16 August 2021) via our television and smart devices as chaos erupted at the Kabul airport as people stormed the tarmac and clung to airplanes that were already taxiing for take off.
Pause for a moment and consider the level of desperation a person would have to feel that they would rather risk life and limb than be left behind.
So why are people fleeing the country?
With U.S. troops set to withdraw from the country by the end of the month, Afghans are worried about what life will look like now that Afghanistan is back under Taliban control.
Why has the Taliban take over been uncontested?
In 2020, U.S. President Donald Trump signed a deal with the Taliban that limited U.S. military action against the militant group. And although USD 2 trillion dollars were spent to equip the Afghan military the security forces collapsed within a week.
Why you may ask?
Corruption and Profit. See below the tweet from retired U.S. Army Major Richard Ojeda.
2 trillion dollars to train and equip the Afghan military over the past 20 years. They fell in a week. It was never about real training. It was about military contractors and corporations raking in the profits. I am numb. I am sure everyone who spent years there feels the same!
— Richard N. Ojeda, II (@Ojeda4America) August 15, 2021
It’s not clear what will happen next but many in the international development community fear that this will continue to lead to a severe rollback in the basic humanitarian rights that have been afforded to women and girls.
When the Taliban was last in power (1996-2001) women could only be seen in public with a male escort and girls couldn’t attend school. Violations were met with punishments that ranged from beating to execution. The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan has reported that since 1 May 2021—when troop withdrawal plans began moving forward—women and children civilian deaths increased and made up 46% of all civilian deaths in the months of May and June.
Nearly 250,000 people have been displaced since the end of May, fleeing their homes in fear of the Taliban, 80% of those people have been women and children.
It’s a devastating time for the people of Afghanistan. It’s unclear of what kind of interventions will be able to take place under Taliban rule, so for now all we can do is watch and look for ways to support those who are already on the inside.
For More Information Read:
NPR’s What Women’s Advocacy Groups Worldwide Are Doing For Women In Afghanistan
AP’s Afghan Take Over: What We Know and What’s Next