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Forbes
6 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Beating Bias: Three Ways To Make AI Fair
TOPSHOT - A robot using artificial intelligence is displayed at a stand during the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) AI for Good Global Summit in Geneva, on May 30, 2024. Humanity is in a race against time to harness the colossal emerging power of artificial intelligence for the good of all, while averting dire risks, a top UN official said. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP) (Photo by FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images As companies rush to implement AI tools, they may be unaware of how these tools can quietly embed bias and accelerate discrimination at a faster pace and on a larger scale than any manager could. A growing body of research finds existing AI tools and algorithms are causing gender and racial bias in decisions related to hiring, pay increases and promotions. For example, a 2024 study by the University of Washington found significant gender and racial bias in AI tools used to shortlist candidates. Another study found that Chat GPT generates differences in salary advice, based on gender, which could perpetuate gender pay gaps if acted on. Laura Bates, founder of the Everyday Sexism Project and author of The New Age of Sexism: How the AI Revolution is Reinventing Misogyny, says existing AI tools are discriminating against people who may not even be aware of it. "Facial recognition tools, for example, have a 1% error rate for light-skinned men but a 35% error rate for darker-skinned women. We know that global financial services companies are already using AI tools in their credit scoring. But those tools tend to discriminate against people from marginalized groups, downgrading the likelihood they will be approved for a loan", says Bates. AI discrimination is not just an ethical problem; organizations must address the negative impact on their talent management processes, or they risk facing potential litigation and reputational damage. Here, Bates shares three ways workplaces can tackle AI discrimination. Audit Existing AI Tools As a starting point to safeguard employees against existing AI bias, companies can map the use of AI tools against the employee lifecycle to identify how AI influences decisions. Companies can then use a number of test cases and vary demographic data, while keeping qualifications and experience the same, to identify any bias in hiring, development, pay, and promotion recommendations. Bates says that AI tools, especially those used in recruitment, are designed to filter out candidates who may differ from the dominant group in organizations, which results in biased outcomes. By regularly auditing AI tools for bias, organizations can not only prevent discrimination but also ensure they are hiring the best person for the job. Train Humans To Spot AI Bias Large language models learn by processing large amounts of text from a wide range of sources, such as the internet or news articles. Often, these sources contain discriminatory language and reflect existing inequities. One way to debias AI tools is to use synthetic or segmented data sets, but even the most unbiased algorithms can be undermined by humans. To solve for this, companies need to train hiring managers, recruiters, or any decision-makers to understand existing forms of discrimination and inequity so they can identify when AI tools are mirroring those same patterns and also not engage in biased decision-making. Balance Speed Of Implementation With Appropriate Safeguards The proliferation of biased AI tools is increasing the normalization of prejudice. "It has always been the case previously that the youngest people had the most socially progressive attitudes, and the oldest cohorts held outdated views about women. There was reason to believe that misogynistic ideas were gradually disappearing. That isn't the case anymore," says Bates. Part of the problem is the lack of diversity in AI development. A 2019 research study by UNESCO found that only 12% of AI researchers are women. A good example of the gendered nature of AI tools is digital voice assistants, which often have a default female name and voice. Bates says research finds that around 10% of conversations with those voice assistants are abusive. "This increases the normalization of calling a woman a name if she doesn't give the answer that you are looking for immediately. Children are growing up in homes where they hear 'Oh, for God's sake, Siri, you idiot!' comments repeatedly. And it all has a cumulative impact." While companies are scrambling to implement AI, they need to identify and manage the associated risks and potential negative impact on all individuals, which can be done by including a diverse range of perspectives in the development and implementation of AI tools. While AI might be here to stay, whether it perpetuates inequality or not is a decision workplaces can make.
NZ Herald
10-08-2025
- NZ Herald
Swiss pilot nears solar plane altitude record at 8224 metres
Swiss pilot Raphael Domjan is seen after his first attempt of the season at setting a new aviation record by reaching an altitude of 10,000 metres onboard the solar-powered plane SolarStratos at the Sion airport, in Sion, southwestern Switzerland. Photo / Fabrice Coffrini, AFP Swiss pilot Raphael Domjan got within around a thousand metres of setting a new altitude record in a solar-powered plane today as he chases the goal of breaking the 10,000m barrier. Self-described eco-explorer Domjan, 53, flew the SolarStratos electric plane to an altitude of 8224m in a flight lasting
Toronto Sun
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Sun
‘ENSURE FAIRNESS': Olympics chief announces ‘scientific approach' to ‘protect female category'
International Olympic Committee (IOC) new president Kirsty Coventry delivers her speech during the handover ceremony at the Olympic House in Lausanne, Switzerland, on June 23, 2025. Photo by Fabrice Coffrini/AFP / Getty Images The new president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) addressed the subject of transgender athletes competing in women's sports, and revealed there is 'overwhelming support' by IOC members to 'protect the female category.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Kirsty Coventry, who was in Lausanne, Switzerland, chairing her first meetings this week since becoming chief, said that a taskforce of scientists and international federations would be created in the coming weeks to come up with a new policy. 'We understand that there'll be differences depending on the sport,' she said, according to Fox News . 'But it was fully agreed that as members that, as the IOC, we should make the effort to place emphasis on the protection of the female category.' Coventry continued: 'It was very clear from the members that we have to protect the female category, first and foremost. We have to do that to ensure fairness. And we have to do it with a scientific approach. And with the inclusion of the international federations who have done a lot of work in that area.' Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The new policy is expected to ban trans athletes from competing in the female category. RECOMMENDED VIDEO But Coventry, who won seven Olympic medal when she competed for Zimbabwe, noted that the shift in policy would not affect previous Olympics results. 'We are not going to be doing anything retrospectively. We are going to be looking forward,' Coventry said. The update comes after the controversial boxing tournament at the 2024 Paris Games after two athletes — Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-Ting — won gold medals despite having been disqualified from the previous year's World Championships for allegedly failing to meet gender eligibility criteria. Algeria's Imane Khalif (left) fights against Tunisia's Homrani Ep Zayani Mariem (Blue) during the women's Fly finals at the Dakar arena in 2020. (Getty Images) Photo by Getty Images / Getty Images World Boxing, which is now recognized by the IOC as the sport's international federation, has since introduced mandatory sex testing and said Khelif would not be able to compete in the female category until she undergoes the test. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Khelif has always maintained she was born a woman, competes as a woman, and is a woman. Read More 'It was very clear from the membership the discussion around this has to be done with medical and scientific research at the core, so we are looking at the facts and the nuances and the inclusion of the international federations that have done so much of this work,' Coventry said. 'But it was pretty much unanimously felt that the IOC should take a leading role in bringing everyone together to try and find a broad consensus.' Toronto Maple Leafs Toronto Raptors Toronto Raptors Music News
Forbes
25-06-2025
- Climate
- Forbes
Why A Massive Lightning Strike In South Carolina Was So Dangerous
TOPSHOT - A man stands on rocks as lightning strikes over Lake Geneva on August 6, 2019 near Le ... More Bouveret, western Switzerland. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP) (Photo by FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images) The major headline for much of the United States right now is dangerous heat, which according to the National Weather Service, is one of the deadliest weather events annually in the United States. On Tuesday afternoon, another dangerous weather phenomenon struck in the state of South Carolina. 20 people were injured by lightning from the 'blue' at Lake Murray. Here's a breakdown of the meteorological factors involved. Thankfully, there were no fatalities, but twelve children and eight adults were electrocuted by a lightning strike at a public park near Lake Murray. The park and beach are associated with Dreher Shoals Dam just west of Columbia, South Carolina. At approximately 4:43 pm, the NWS issued a statement that the South Carolina Emergency Management agency initially reported that 18 people were struck by lightning. However, media outlets are now reporting that at least 20 people were treated at local medical facilities. National Weather Service report of lightning strike on June 24, 2025 at Lake Murray Dam. The storm that struck the area was very isolated and produces very little rainfall. According the National Weather Service discussion Tuesday morning, 'Skies will start the day sunny, but then diurnal cumulus is expected to develop this afternoon.' Most guidance shows limited to no convection. However, NWS went on to say, 'It should be noted that a couple of models show convection firing along the coastal trough, so cannot rule out at least the possibility of storms near the Pee Dee and eastern Midlands late this afternoon/early this evening.' Some experts believe other factors were at play though further analysis will be needed to conclusively determine causation. The thunderstorm that produced a dangerous lightining strike near Lake Murray, South Carolina. Radar imagery shows the storm that struck just downwind of Columbia, South Carolina. Though speculative at this time, University of South Alabama meteorology lecturer Jordan McLeod wondered if this was a storm initiated by the urban environment of Columbia, South Carolina. Before rolling your eyes, numerous studies have shown that cities might provide lift or destabilization to produce thunderstorms because of the urban heat island and rougher landscape. McLeod has authored a series of papers in recent years on the urban rainfall effect. I have served as a collaborator on those studies and published scholarly work in this area for the past 20 years. These studies have suggested that regions over and just downwind of cities might be preferred regions for storms on days when very little meteorological forcing is present. On Tuesday, winds were blowing from east to west, which would place the Lake Murray region downwind of Columbia. One of our studies even showed that lightning anomalies might preferentially oriented over and downwind of cities during the warm season. Lake breeze circulations can also initiate thunderstorms during the afternoon because the surrounding land is warmer than water. If you go to the beach often, you may have noticed this with afternoon sea breeze storms too. It will be interesting to see if the Lake Murray breeze in isolation or as an interaction with an urban-related or other pre-existing boundary was responsible for this storm. From the common eye, storms may be perceived to 'pop up' out of nowhere at this time of year, but closer meteorological inspection usually reveals a source of initiation. Examples of clouds forming due to a lake breeze. Some media reports have indicated that no rainfall occurred at the site of the strike. It is important to remind readers that lightning can happen far away from actual rainfall core. Such 'bolts from the blue' are more common than you may think, so when the 'thunder roars get indoors," even if it is not raining. The National Severe Storms Laboratory website defines it as, 'A cloud-to-ground flash which typically comes out of the side of the thunderstorm cloud, travels a relatively large distance in clear air away from the storm cloud, and then angles down and strikes the ground.' I have seen many cases of lightning strikes several miles away from the actual thunderstorm. Often times, lightning strikes 'from the blue' come from the anvil region of the storm, which can be several miles downwind of the main rain core. Chris Jackson of South Carolina Weather captured the radar image below of the likely strike in question. Lightning bolt likely associated with the strike.
17-06-2025
- Business
B.C. court certifies Canada-wide class-action suit against McKinsey for alleged opioid promotion
The B.C. Supreme Court has certified a Canada-wide class-action lawsuit against consultancy firm McKinsey & Company as part of ongoing legal efforts by the province to recover health-care costs relating to the toxic drug crisis. In a judgment posted Friday (new window) , the province alleges the company advised opioid manufacturers and helped design advertising campaigns that led to the over-prescription of opioids. The class-action lawsuit sought by the provincial government — in which it would act as a lead plaintiff, on behalf of other provinces and the federal government — is closely related to another similar lawsuit (new window) that the province is pursuing against pharmaceutical companies for their alleged role in the illicit drug crisis. The poisoned drug epidemic was declared a public health emergency in the province in April 2016, and more than 16,000 people have died in B.C. since then. This photograph taken in April 2022 shows a sign of U.S.-based McKinsey & Company management consulting firm in Geneva. The consultancy firm says it will defend itself against the lawsuit in court. (Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images) Photo: (Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images) According to the province, McKinsey helped design campaigns for Canadian pharmaceutical companies that made false claims about opioids to prescribers and the public — ultimately causing an over-prescription of addictive drugs and harming those who used them. While Justice Michael Brundrett didn't agree with all of the province's arguments, he found there was enough in its case for it to proceed to a full class-action hearing. While I acknowledge the importance of individual issues, I nevertheless assess that the joint litigation of the proposed common issues will significantly advance judicial economy, he wrote in his judgment. B.C. Attorney General Niki Sharma alleges that McKinsey was underselling the risks associated with opioids and what addictive qualities they had. (Ben Nelms/CBC) Photo: Radio-Canada / Ben Nelms The province, on behalf of other jurisdictions, and McKinsey will now proceed to a trial where the province seeks to recover health-care, pharmaceutical and treatment costs. For its part, McKinsey said the complaint was without merit and it would defend itself in court. McKinsey & Company did not undertake any work in Canada related to the sale or marketing of opioids, a spokesperson said in an email. Province alleges conspiracy In seeking to certify a class-action lawsuit, a plaintiff must prove that the alleged damages done to them are shared by a group of others, and that the group's common issues must be heard in one sitting. The provincial government asserted to the court that McKinsey's actions and advice were consistent across the U.S. and Canada. McKinsey has already admitted to being involved in a U.S. lawsuit (new window) regarding promoting opioids in that country, in which it agreed to pay $600 million US over claims it aided Purdue Pharma in encouraging opioid over-prescription. In addition to linking McKinsey's actions to Purdue Canada, the province further alleged that McKinsey's consultancy north of the border included doing work for other opioid distributors Janssen, Endo, and McKesson. Justice Brundrett wrote that the province's theory was that McKinsey was the effective 'hand in the glove' for the improper promotion of opioid manufacturing. The judge noted that the consultancy firm had raised serious issues as to whether its actions had promoted prescription use in Canada or not. Certification does not involve an assessment of the merits and is not a pronouncement on the viability or strength of the action, the judge wrote. The outcome of certification is not predictive of the outcome of the common issues at trial. AG says lawsuit about accountability B.C. Attorney General Niki Sharma said the action, on behalf of other jurisdictions, was part of her job to hold companies accountable and recover damages on behalf of taxpayers. This is part of a large lawsuit so we can recover what taxpayers had to pay since 1996, because of the health impacts on so many people and the tragic losses that we've suffered in this province, she told CBC News. Leslie McBain, who lost her son Jordan to an oxycodone overdose in 2014, said companies that were marketing opioids in an irresponsible way should be held accountable. However, the advocate and founder of Moms Stop The Harm said governments should devote their attention to tackling the ongoing toxic drug crisis instead. On the one hand. I'm glad to hear this news, she said of the lawsuit. "But on the other hand, it doesn't solve anything right now. Akshay Kulkarni (new window) · CBC News
