Pulitzer Center Update October 17, 2024
Pulitzer Center Hosts AI Accountability Workshop in Bangkok
Country:
Project
The Philippines and the AI Boom
How AI intersects with the systems of disadvantage and discrimination in the Philippines.
On September 30, 2024, a workshop on artificial intelligence accountability, titled "Who Guards Our Future?", was held in Bangkok, organized by the Pulitzer Center’s International Education and Outreach Program and Lukkid, a local organization that designs workshops.
The event focused on AI accountability in Thailand and brought together participants from diverse sectors, including business, academia, media, labor unions, and civil society. Karol Ilagan, a Pulitzer Center AI Accountability Network Fellow, shared valuable insights about the impact of algorithms in the ride-hailing industry. Participants showed significant interest in the topic, with many committing to integrate AI accountability into their educational programs, while others called for increased media coverage to enhance public awareness.
Drawing inspiration from the Pulitzer Center’s AI Accountability Network, which focuses on biases in AI and the exploited labor behind it, participants were invited to share their “hopes and fears” related to these themes.
Their hopes ranged from AI’s ability to help humans overcome limitations and enhance their skills in the belief that artificial intelligence should remain under human control. In contrast, participants expressed fears that AI could take over certain jobs, reducing the role of workers, while others worried about its potential to threaten human life and perpetuate stereotypes.
Participants also brainstormed solutions to these issues, suggesting that the government should take responsibility for protecting the public from the misuse of AI. They emphasized the role of human rights organizations and NGOs in educating workers about how to respond to AI discrimination in the workplace. Additionally, they proposed legislation requiring companies that use algorithms to disclose the results of their operations, as well as tax incentives for businesses that adopt ethical AI practices.
Participants shared ideas they believe are feasible and can be implemented right away. The workshop wrapped up with them sharing their personal commitments to addressing the issue.
Participants praised the workshop, with one saying, “The workshop activities were engaging with a structured process, which allowed participants to organize their thoughts effectively.”
Video by Vijitra Duangdee/Pulitzer Center. Thailand, 2024.
