Date: Wednesday, May 8th, 2024
9:00 am – 10:00 am Pacific Time
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Eastern Time
Location: Weekly Seminar, Zoom
Title: Fairness and Randomness in Predictive Systems
Abstract:
Algorithmic monocultures occur when many decision-makers use the same predictive system. A monoculture ensures consistency, but also amplifies the weaknesses, biases, and idiosyncrasies of the original predictive system. When the same person re-encounters the same or similar models, she might be wrongly rejected again and again. We propose stochastic procedures that reduce the homogeneity of decision outcomes and more fairly respect the claims that each individual has to outcomes or opportunities. In doing so, we take a step back from the fairness of individual models to focus instead on the fairness of the decision ecosystem as a whole.
Bio:
Kathleen Creel is an assistant professor at Northeastern University, cross appointed between Philosophy and Computer Science. Her research explores the moral, political, and epistemic implications of machine learning as it is used in automated decision making and in science. She received her PhD from University of Pittsburgh’s History and Philosophy of Science Department and the Herbert A. Simon award from the International Association for Computing and Philosophy in 2023.