New algorithm limits bias in machine learning

Machine learning--a form of artificial intelligence based on the idea that computers can learn from data and make determinations with little help from humans--has the potential to improve our lives in countless ways. From self-driving cars to mammogram scans that can read themselves, machine learning is transforming modern life. It's easy to assume that using algorithms for decision-making removes human bias from the equation. But researchers have found that machine learning can produce unfair determinations in certain contexts, such as hiring someone for a job. For example, if the data plugged into the algorithm suggest men are more productive than women, the machine is likely to "learn" that difference and favor male candidates over female ones, missing the bias of the input.