Social Responsibility of Algorithms

TL;DR

This paper reviews the historical and current impact of autonomous algorithms on society, emphasizing ethical concerns and challenges in data handling and decision-making processes.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview and categorization of the societal impacts of algorithms, highlighting challenges for researchers and practitioners.

Findings

Algorithms influence data collection and manipulation

Autonomous artifacts have a long history predating AI

Framework identifies key societal challenges

Abstract

Should we be concerned by the massive use of devices and algorithms which automatically handle an increasing number of everyday activities within our societies? The paper makes a short overview of the scientific investigation around this topic, showing that the development, existence and use of such autonomous artifacts is much older than the recent interest in machine learning monopolised artificial intelligence. We then categorise the impact of using such artifacts to the whole process of data collection, structuring, manipulation as well as in recommendation and decision making. The suggested framework allows to identify a number of challenges for the whole community of decision analysts, both researchers and practitioners.