As machine learning (ML) has been applied to facilitate decision-making in various areas, such as hiring, loan grading etc., there have been and continue to be increasing concerns [3, 31] that ML models will inevitably "learn undesired bias" from the training data and make unfair predictions. From algorithms erroneously detecting suspects of crimes base on the color of their skin [7] and deciding who goes to jail [26], to algorithms used to predict test scores that provide unfairly higher scores to socioeconomically privileged students, allowing them to enter universities at a higher rate [27], the lack of understanding and control of undesired bias in ML models has tangible consequences. To deal with this challenge of biased models, many researchers have devoted their efforts, e.g., [15, 17, 35, 8, 2] to define, detect and mitigate bias in ML over the past decade. These approaches mainly measure and reduce undesired bias with respect to a sensitive attribute, such as age or race, in the training dataset. Although many of them provide various effective approaches, they all focus on centralized ML, where the training dataset is stored in a single place, executing the learning procedure, and hence assume full access to the entire dataset.

I had stopped writing here as you may know, after all the micro and macro aggressions and harassments I received after posting my stories here (and then of course it started being moderated). Recently however, I was contributing to a document that Katherine and Daphne were writing where they were dismayed by the fact that after all this talk, this org seems to have hired 14% or so women this year. Samy has hired 39% from what I understand but he has zero incentive to do this. What I want to say is stop writing your documents because it doesn't make a difference. The DEI OKRs that we don't know where they come from (and are never met anyways), the random discussions, the "we need more mentorship" rather than "we need to stop the toxic environments that hinder us from progressing" the constant fighting and education at your cost, they don't matter.

Way back in 1942 science fiction writer Isaac Asimov created the Three Laws of Robotics. They were written into a short story called "Runaround". Their influence on technological development has been significant and long lasting. Now, legal academic and AI expert Frank Pasquale has expanded that list. Building on Asimov's legacy, Professor Pasquale's four new laws of robotics are designed to ensure that the future development of artificial intelligence is done in the interest of humanity.

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has accused Google of illegally firing two workers who took part in labor organizing activities. The agency also claimed Google spied on employees who planned protests and that it has policies that dissuade workers from union organizing. Those alleged actions violate workers' rights under the National Labor Relations Act, according to the NLRB. Google told NPR in a statement that it supports the protected labor rights of workers. However, it claimed the employees at the heart of the NLRB's complaint carried out actions that constituted "a serious violation of our policies and an unacceptable breach of a trusted responsibility." The company fired four employees last year in the wake of protests, but the NLRB only took up two of their cases.

A small group of economists from Italy, the U.K., and the U.S. has published a Policy Forum piece in the journal Science suggesting that consumers need to be protected from collusive price setting by AI systems. They also outline some possible ways to solve the problem. For most countries, price collusion is illegal. It is where two or more makers or sellers of goods get together and agree to charge higher than market prices for the goods or services they are selling. Such practices are illegal because consumers wind up paying higher prices than they would if prices were market based.

On Thursday 26 November Professor Andrew Murray joined us online to deliver his lecture'Almost human: law and human agency in the time of artificial intelligence.' More than five hundred people from all over the world watched the sixth Annual T.M.C. Asser Lecture. A recording of the lecture is now available on our Youtube page. Artificial intelligence (AI) is all around us: from the smartphones in our hands to drone strikes thousands of miles away. While this technology has many benefits such as simplifying complex data and making daily tasks easier, it also has dangerous implications.

* NexTech is expanding its technology stack by launching a new AI division * The Company is establishing a transformative internship program with AI students at Northeastern University and others * The global AI market revenues are expected to surpass $300 billion in 2024, creating a new substantial market opportunity for NexTech VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 02, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NexTech AR Solutions (NexTech) (OTCQB: NEXCF) (CSE: NTAR) (FSE: N29), a leading provider of virtual and augmented reality (AR) experience technologies and services for virtual and hybrid eCommerce, education, conferences and events today announced the creation of its new Artificial Intelligence (AI) division. Through a dedicated initial team of three AI experts focused on enhancing NexTech’s AI capabilities, the company aims to gain a competitive edge and create new portfolio offerings to complement its AR; streamlining operations for clients while tapping into a market that is expected to surpass $300 billion in revenues by 2024.NexTech’s Mirjana Prpa, AR Product Manager, and the new head of the AI division, will drive efforts to identify, develop and deploy AI capabilities within the Company’s existing AR technology and virtual experience portfolio. She will lead a growing team that will include new AI experts and a substantial number of interns. The NexTech AI program plans to create automation within the AR content creation space in order to build a self-service AR platform that easily works for everyone, turning everyone into AR creators. The AI program will give back to students while also tapping into their untapped potential and insight by developing an internship program, starting with computer science students at the nearby Northeastern University in Vancouver.The internships offered by NexTech’s AI division will provide students with a unique hands-on learning experience that equips them with the tools they need to establish their careers in AI and AR. NexTech aims to create a mutually beneficial experience where students will be able to grow with the company by working on various AI-focused projects. In addition, NexTech is committed to creating long-term opportunities that will allow students to work closely with the NexTech team in real-world AI applications.NexTech is building this new AI division with the goal of becoming a leader in AR which it believes can only happen with the merging of these two potent technologies. The team will utilize AI within the content creation of the company’s AR solutions that allow users to not just experience AR but also to create their own experiences, through the support of AI for AR. The ultimate goal is to harness the power of AI to offer a self-serve AR solution for everyone.“I’m excited to lead NexTech’s AI division and work towards the goal of making AR accessible to everyone. By creating a program that connects academia with industry experts, we hope to create long term relationships with students by recognizing their talents and offering them opportunities to aid in their professional development,” says Mirjana Prpa, Product Manager for AR and Head of the AI Division. “The potential of AI in AR applications is limitless; we’re only just starting to scratch the surface with this newfound program. Through the work of professionals and students who are learning new applications and approaches for AI integration, coupled with our growing team at NexTech, we hope to create experiences unlike any other currently available that combine the mesmerizing potential of AR with the streamlined efficiency of AI.”Evan Gappelberg, CEO of NexTech says, “As one of the leaders in the Augmented Reality market, we are excited to continue our leadership and development with the introduction of our AI division as well as our internship program. NexTech’s growth and competitiveness within the market remains an important aspect of the company’s identity, especially as we work to extend our capabilities and services into the rapidly growing AR/AI markets.”To learn more about NexTech AR, please visit www.nextechar.com.About NexTech ARNexTech is one of the leaders in the rapidly growing Augmented Reality market estimated to grow from USD $10.7B in 2019 and projected to reach USD $72.7B by 2024 according to Markets & Markets Research; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 46.6% from 2019 to 2024.The company is pursuing four verticals:InfernoAR: An advanced Augmented Reality and Video Learning Experience Platform for Events, is a SaaS video platform that integrates Interactive Video, Artificial Intelligence and Augmented Reality in one secure platform to allow enterprises the ability to create the world’s most engaging virtual event management and learning experiences. Automated closed captions and translations to over 64 languages. According to Grandview Research the global virtual events market in 2020 is $90B and expected to reach more than $400B by 2027, growing at a 23% CAGR. With NexTech’s InfernoAR platform having augmented reality, AI, end-to-end encryption and built in language translation for 64 languages, the company is well positioned to rapidly take market share as the growth accelerates globally.ARitize™ For eCommerce: The company launched its SaaS platform for webAR in eCommerce early in 2019. NexTech has a ​‘full funnel’ end-to-end eCommerce solution for the AR industry including its Aritize360 app for 3D product capture, 3D/AR ads, its ARitize white label app it’s ‘Try it On’ technology for online apparel, 3D and 360-degree product views, and ‘one click buy’.ARitize™ 3D/AR Advertising Platform: Launched in Q1 2020 the ad platform will be the industry's first end-to-end solution whereby the company will leverage its 3D asset creation into 3D/AR ads. In 2019, according to IDC, global advertising spend will be about $725 billion.ARitize™ Hollywood Studios: The studio is in development producing immersive content using 360 video, and augmented reality as the primary display platform.To learn more, please follow us on Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook, or visit our website: https://www.nextechar.com.On behalf of the Board of NexTech AR Solutions Corp. “Evan Gappelberg” CEO and DirectorFor further information regarding the internship program, please contact:Mirjana Prpa Head of AI Division mirjana.prpa@nextechar.comThe CSE has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.Certain information contained herein may constitute “forward-looking information” under Canadian securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as, “will be”, “looking forward” or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results “will” occur. Forward-looking statements regarding the Company increasing investors awareness are based on the Company’s estimates and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements of NexTech to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, including capital expenditures and other costs. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. NexTech will not update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that are incorporated by reference herein, except as required by applicable securities laws.

Each innovation challenges the norms, codes, and values of the society in which it is embedded. The industrial revolution unleashed new forces of productivity but at the cost of inhumane working conditions, leading to the creation of unions, labor laws, and the foundations of the political party structures of modern democracies. Fossil fuels powered a special century of growth before pushing governments, companies, and civil society to phase them out to protect our health, ecology, and climate. When innovations lead to disaster, it says much about the societal context. The Chernobyl nuclear disaster embodied the flaws of Soviet planning.

The facial recognition community continues to speak in circles when ethics is the topic. Notable business-to-business tech analyst Gartner is the latest with indistinct advice that amounts to "Please use better judgment." A new post by Gartner analyst Frank Buytendijk advises, "The appropriate use of facial recognition technology depends on the prevailing culture, ethics, legislation and practices." People in public might as well be fish in a barrel analyzed for profit by machine vision. Vendors leave questions of ethics in the hands of buyers.

Employee surveys are a useful tool in an organization's toolbox for gaining greater understanding of employees' attitudes towards all aspects of a business. Of course, surveys are also used to analyze employee morale and the workplace environment. They may even broach issues of misconduct, whether due to sexual harassment in this age of #MeToo or to more general issues of managerial abuse of employees, favoritism, or anything that comes under the rubric of a hostile work environment. Of course, many employees feel that responding to even an anonymous survey will expose them to potential retaliation. For that reason companies frequently bring in a third party to administer the surveys and analyze the results.