Today, we’re going to talk about something hotter than a lobster pot in July: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and this new buzz around “bias-free” technology. Grab your coffee, buckle up, and let’s dive right in!

Now, you might have heard chuckles and chortles about this new Google AI thingamajig called Gemini. People are saying it’s kookier than a bag of hammers, but let me tell ya, it’s serious potatoes. You see, Gemini is supposed to be this shining knight in digital armor, free of bias and as fair as a bean supper. But it’s jumping out of the boat before it even gets its feet wet.

Let’s say you asked this Gemini to whip up some pictures of white folks, and it turns around and says, “No, can do; that’s reinforcing some not-so-nice stereotypes.” Fair enough. But then, it cranks out images of non-white Vikings and a black George Washington without batting an eye. Well, that’s more curious than a cat at a mouse convention.

And it ain’t just Google wading through the muck. There’s Microsoft’s AI tool that got caught with its pants down, generating images that would make your nana blush or your gramps reach for the shotgun.

So, what’s the scoop? As much as folks in suits want to push “anti-racism” and diversity, equity, and inclusion practices, it’s a stone’s throw away from swinging right back into bias land. Still, this time with a shiny “fairness” label slapped on it.

Hiring Bias

That’s where I want to tell you a story—imagine you’re fresh out of school, ready to tackle the world with a pocket full of dreams and an impressive resume to boot. You start shooting out those job applications faster than a cannon on the Fourth of July. But unbeknownst to you, the AI behind the scenes is peekin’ at your resume, deciding if you fit the bill or if someone else gets your seat at the table based on some hidden equity quota.

And remember LinkedIn, the world’s top hiring site, and their bias. A story in MIT Technology Review talks about how LinkedIn (among others like ZipRecruiter) was caught being biased when it came to job applicants. “LinkedIn’s job-matching AI was biased. The company’s solution? More AI.”

What does this mean for business owners who are not exactly tech wizards? Well, crucially, you have to know what’s cooking with AI in your business. Have you got an AI helping sort through job candidates or serve up ads? It might be deciding things on the down low that you never signed up for.

Building Your Own Business A.I.

How about a business that’s looking to build its own AI to support its sales efforts. Think of it as an intelligent robot that’s been reading a whole library of books, soaking up the sun of knowledge. Pretty impressive, right? But here’s the kicker—if this robot only read books from the ‘Bad Advice’ section, well, you can bet your bottom dollar its advice won’t be top-notch.

Picture this: You’re a business owner. And you’ve got this shiny new AI helping you with customer service. However, it starts telling your customers that the best way to fix their problems is to “turn it off and then turn it back on again.” Not so helpful. Or that your competitors have a better product?

Now, we want our AIs to be something other than the office clown, especially not in front of our customers! So, we need to be sure they’ve been trained right—not just with a stack of random internet pages, but with quality, unbiased info.

So, here’s what you can do, folks:

Ask your AI provider what’s been used to train your AI buddy. Was it just any old internet data, or was it a curated set of knowledge? Watch for updates from your AI service—technology, just like a fine wine or my waistline, doesn’t stay the same. Most importantly, keep an eye out for any funny business from your AI. If there is any hint of bias, put that robot on time-out and give the provider a jingle.

Remember: 🤖 Ask about the AI’s education 🔄 Stay updated with tech changes 👂 Listen for the AI’s biases

And for all of you listeners, here are a few go-getter action items to keep from being keelhauled by this bias-free baloney:

1. Get Informed: Stay ahead of the game and learn about these AI tools. The more you know, the less they can snow you.
2. Be Clear With AI Use: If you use AI in your business, be as transparent as Saran Wrap about how it’s being used.
3. Ask Questions: If you’re on the hunt for opportunities, be bold and ask companies how they’re using AI in their selection process.
4. Demand Fair Sailing: Contact your lawmakers, representatives, etc., and tell them you want fairness, not a computer deciding your fate based on its secret recipe.
5. Stay Hopeful and Watchful: Keep an eagle eye on updates and improvements. Technology is as changeable as New England weather.

Now, I’m curious as a cat – how’d ya find us? We’re loud and proud, broadcasting without a snippet of ads – all organic, like Vermont maple syrup. So let me know!

And if today’s chat made you feel like you’ve found a golden ticket to Willy Wonka’s tech factory, go on and tell your pals! Share the love, and pass the show along.

Wouldn’t it be fun to share these tech bites over a backyard barbecue chat or while watching the Sox game?

As we wind down today’s adventure, holler at me if you’ve got stories, comments, or a fierce need to understand something more about tech. Just drop by CraigPeterson.com and sign up—we’re friendlier than an old retriever around here.

Now, don’t forget these giggles: Remember that time you tried to fix the TV by using “percussive maintenance”, and now we’ve got AI trying to fix bias by, well, being biased? Ain’t that a stitch?

Till next time, remember that in tech, as in life, the only constant is change. Stay sharp, stay smart, and let’s keep cracking the code together—over and out!