Diversity in Tech Needed to Reduce AI Bias, Academic Says

Charlton McIlwain, a vice provost and a professor of media, culture and communication at NYU, said he believes the tech community isn't fully committed to diversifying its workforce. Diversity efforts have been under way for years, he said, speaking Thursday at an event in New York organized by the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence. However, he added, "we're still at the same place, if not a little bit behind. Because there's not a commitment to the long [process], from beginning to end about what has to be done to produce that kind of diverse workforce that [extends] from the bottom all the way up to the top, which is necessary." In an interview after his speech, Mr. McIlwain said increasing diversity starts with companies recognizing that a diverse workforce, especially in engineering positions, helps them "see a broader range of problems that affect a broader range of people."