Register For Our Mailing List

Register to receive our free weekly newsletter including editorials.

Home / 341

When algorithms go rogue the havoc is all too human

From recommending a movie on Netflix to processing a job application, algorithms are increasingly part of the decision-making processes of our everyday lives.

But alongside this has come a growing awareness of the negative effects of algorithmic decision-making, with individuals denied access to social security or health insurance, or even spending longer in jail, all without any human intervention.

We have coined the term 'algorithmic pollution' to describe this phenomenon of unjustified, unfair, discriminatory or other harmful consequences of autonomous algorithmic decision-making. 

Managers and politicians typically get excited about new technologies, especially artificial intelligence (AI). They believe that we are developing powerful algorithms that are non-biased, efficient and better decision-makers than humans, which is a myth. Algorithms learn from human beings, and they learn their biases. 

Lack of understanding

Hiring algorithms, for example, draw on historical data to identify characteristics that predict job performance. As they learn from past decisions, algorithms reinforce historical biases, despite the best intentions of designers. 

And algorithms often rely on unchecked and potentially inaccurate data sets, which increases the risk of wrong and unfair decisions. 

Consider the case of a highly trained and experienced job candidate who was not short-listed. An investigation found that the algorithm rejected the candidate based on data from pharmacies where the candidate was once prescribed anti-depressants. 

Perhaps most bizarre of all is predictive policing. Almost 400,000 Chicago residents now have an official police ‘risk score’ calculated by an algorithm. While still secret and publicly unaccountable, these risk scores are used for decision-making and shape policing strategy.

There’s a worrying lack of understanding of the inherent limitations and dangers of algorithmic decision-making among politicians, managers and other professionals. While algorithms can be very useful in complex calculations and support decision-making, they cannot replace human judgment.

Unfair impacts

Naz Guler, a director at PwC who works in the area of transformation delivery, says:

“Increasingly, both in business and in government, I’m seeing that decisions are being entrusted to technology, and there’s a growing belief that ‘tech is always right’. I see increasing investment into AI systems and a growing reliance on AI models, without having a clear understanding of their capabilities, knowledge or training processes. 

We need to slow down and think clearly about what we’re doing, and the potential unfair impacts we will have. I would like to see businesses doing more to establish the foundations of trust in their algorithms and models.”

Guler sees the drive towards algorithmic solutions as the result of the convergence of huge increases in technology (such as data storage and computer power) plus the exponential growth of the volume of available data.

AI has enormous potential to improve public policy and services, as Guler believes data analytics can enable governments to develop policies to create a more equitable society, with better personalisation and customisation of services. She says:

“There’s also been a realisation that data itself is really valuable. When it’s augmenting human efficiencies, it contributes in a positive way. The danger comes when we rely on data-driven decisions with no human intervention or consideration.

In my view, if there’s a bias within the data, you will get inadvertent decisions. A good example here is facial recognition systems, where there are a lot of examples of racial bias. There’s a lack of transparency about what data we’re using and how that data is relevant in any given decision.”

Perpetuating prejudice

Perhaps the most unsettling area where algorithms are increasingly taking over from human decision-making is in law enforcement. Predictive policing systems such as Predpol, which use past data on crimes in order to focus policing resources into certain geographical areas, are used widely in the US.

In a resource-limited world, the idea of reducing crime by spending less money is very attractive,” says Lyria Bennett Moses, a Professor and Director of the Allens Hub for Technology, Law and Innovation at UNSW Law. “And the words that get used to describe predictive policing – objective, scientific, data driven – all have a positive spin.”

But while Bennett Moses admits that these systems can be good at predicting location-based crime such as burglary, a predictive policing system inevitably focuses on where crime is reported, rather than where it happens. 

These tools are less useful at predicting crimes with little location-based correlation, such as domestic violence (which are generally under-reported) or crimes policed in a racially based way, such as those connected with the use of offensive language. She says:

“Offensive language occurs a lot at, say, sporting events or in pubs. But where it actually gets reported is in areas like Sydney’s Redfern, with its large Indigenous population. If you police a community a lot, then you notice more of the crime that happens there. And that’s what goes into the database."

Other algorithmic systems, such as COMPAS, are now creating risk assessment scores that are used in decisions on criminal sentencing and parole. Pro Publica has found that this tool has a higher false positive rate (falsely flagging danger) for African Americans, but it goes beyond racial bias. 

A typical question that a system will ask is, are your parents still married, and if not, how old were you when they divorced? Presently, if an offender provides the ‘wrong’ answer to this, they could get refused parole, because they fall into a group that’s more likely to reoffend if released early. Bennett Moses says:

“The basic idea here is wrong. There are some kinds of decisions where these factors should be ignored, even if they are statistically relevant.

We’re relying on systems that affect people’s lives, so we need to take a step back. It’s not just the machine – racial skewing is not the machine. If the past data suggests that black people commit crimes in certain places (and disproportionately so due to targeted policing) then that’s where the machine will look. It becomes a perpetuator of prejudice."

Human responsibility

So, if the problem is clear, what then of the solution? Can businesses and governments police this themselves?

We need more regulation, and it needs to be well-evidenced and based on research. The new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the EU is a good model to follow. Google and Facebook are already worried about these laws, so the EU is on the right track. Guler says:

“’Responsible AI’ is a bit of a buzzword at the moment, AI that’s designed to draw in human values. But the problem with this is – which values? Current business leaders in this sector are all North American, and for the most part, white men.

Guler sees a good parallel here with recent discussions over bio-ethics. 

There’s an idea that we should be lining up AI in terms of human rights. We need to think about fairness, transparency, and integrity in decision making.” 

For any decisions made by algorithms, there has to be a human responsibility identified. If algorithms are our future, then understanding, fighting against and preventing algorithmic pollution may save our collective dignity and humanity.

 

Dubravka Cecez-Kecmanovic is a Professor in the School of Information Systems and Technology Management at UNSW Business School. Her co-authors are Richard Vidgen, also a Professor at UNSW Business School, and Olivera Marjanovic, a Professor at UTS. This article was originally published on Business Think, an alliance partner of Firstlinks.

 

RELATED ARTICLES

8 ways that AI will impact how we invest

Every era has its hot stocks. Will AI defy gravity?

A 30-minute article using OpenAI … and there goes my job

banner

Most viewed in recent weeks

An important Foxtel announcement...

News Corp's plans to sell Foxtel are surprising in that streaming assets Kayo, Binge and Hubbl look likely to go with it. This and recent events in the US show the bind that legacy TV businesses find themselves in.

Welcome to Firstlinks Edition 575 with weekend update

A new study has found Australians far outlive people in other English-speaking countries. We live four years longer than the average American and two years more than the average Briton, and some of the reasons why may surprise you.

  • 29 August 2024

The challenges of building a portfolio from scratch

It surprises me how often individual investors and even seasoned financial professionals don’t know the basics of building an investment portfolio. Here is a guide to do just that, as well as the challenges involved.

Creating a bulletproof investment portfolio

Is it possible to build a portfolio that performs well in any economic environment? So-called 'All Weather' portfolios have become more prominent of late, and this looks at what these portfolios are and their pros and cons.

Welcome to Firstlinks Edition 578 with weekend update

The number of high-net-worth individuals in Australia has increased by almost 9% over the past year, and they now own $3.3 trillion in investable assets. A new report reveals how the wealthy are investing their money.

  • 19 September 2024

Why I'm a perma-bull on stocks

Investors overestimate the risk of owning stocks and underestimate the risk of not owning them. In the long run, shares crush other major asset classes, yet it’s one thing to understand this, it’s another to being able to execute on it.

Latest Updates

Investing

Where to find good investment writing and advice

Investors are exposed to so much information that it’s often hard to filter the good from the bad. This looks at how to tell the difference between the two and the best sources of investment writing and advice.

Investment strategies

Are demographics destiny for the stock market?

Demographics influence economies and stock markets, but other factors like technology and policy can overshadow their impact. Diversifying across income-producing assets can help mitigate demographic-driven challenges and build wealth.

Shares

Are we reaching the end of Transurban's gravy train?

You can only push monopoly power so far before it triggers a backlash. Transurban might have finally pushed too far, raising big questions for investors.

The dawn of wicked asset classes

Collectables and other non-traditional assets often rally late in the cycle. But you should only buy them with a clear purpose and with money you can afford to lose.

Property

This property valuation metric needs a rethink

Capitalisation rates, commonly known as ‘cap rates’, are a fundamental metric in Australian property investing.  However, this seemingly simple and ubiquitous measure can be far more complex to use when comparing different types of properties.

Superannuation

Improving access to account-based pensions

Research suggests that 50,000 Australians who are retiring over the next year may not be able to access an account-based pension because they do not meet minimum application requirements of their super fund.

Do sanctions work?

Sanctions are losing effectiveness due to increasing economic polarisation, with many countries increasingly circumventing restrictions. Examples include China, Iran and Russia, whose industries have adapted despite sanctions.

Sponsors

Alliances

© 2024 Morningstar, Inc. All rights reserved.

Disclaimer
The data, research and opinions provided here are for information purposes; are not an offer to buy or sell a security; and are not warranted to be correct, complete or accurate. Morningstar, its affiliates, and third-party content providers are not responsible for any investment decisions, damages or losses resulting from, or related to, the data and analyses or their use. To the extent any content is general advice, it has been prepared for clients of Morningstar Australasia Pty Ltd (ABN: 95 090 665 544, AFSL: 240892), without reference to your financial objectives, situation or needs. For more information refer to our Financial Services Guide. You should consider the advice in light of these matters and if applicable, the relevant Product Disclosure Statement before making any decision to invest. Past performance does not necessarily indicate a financial product’s future performance. To obtain advice tailored to your situation, contact a professional financial adviser. Articles are current as at date of publication.
This website contains information and opinions provided by third parties. Inclusion of this information does not necessarily represent Morningstar’s positions, strategies or opinions and should not be considered an endorsement by Morningstar.