During your presentation on the Ethics of Algorithms, reference was made to the difference in arrests for drugs between blacks and whites, while rates of drug use are approximately equal. This was claimed to demonstrate a bias in the way drug arrests occur. Having recently read Thomas Sowell’s Discrimination and Disparities, I recalled purchasing drugs in my youth. Most purchases were made in someone’s house, or perhaps in their parent’s garage. ‘Someone,’ in this case being a white dealer. I never heard of a white dealer selling on the streets. Black drug dealers on the sidewalks were at the time rather obvious in certain parts of Oakland, where I grew up. I presume you’re much more likely to get arrested selling on the street than in your parent’s garage. (The statute of limitations has long since run on my youthful indiscretions.)

I’m not sure y’all talk to the folks at the Hoover Institution, but a presentation regarding how you determine bias with Thomas Sowell as a guest would certainly be lively.

The greatest concern I have regarding the implementation of algorithms or algorithmic mechanisms to expedite the current criminal justice system (CJS) is for at least two parts:
a . 1(1)和-1(-1):无论你构建的任何算法多么出色，或者多么不受影响，你都可能构建一个工具来使用完美无缺的算法，甚至使用一些有意的双盲机制来提供不受限制的约束;even in that, there are always a minimum of two separate variables required to compute anything:
1. Therefore, even if for this example, the social wisdom or intellectual value of the algorithm was 100,000,000,000 (100 Billion) times the value of anything it judged/digested to social interpretation to achieve a better more balanced CJS; the ultimate end equals solution will be also and equally contingent upon then second variable, that is the thing being judged/examined.
2. Because the notion of the algorithm in construct is to alleviate the burden upon CJS to expedite ‘more’ or somehow ‘better’ justice upon the people(s), whatever the concern in question to be judged, the total second variable value is not an ‘absolute value’ because people are always hurting out of hurt and criminalized by crimes so the second variable is essentially negative.
3. While the algorithm may not see bias in the way people see bias, because of the inherently flawed dataset where all people will develop at slightly different rates and their experiences, even those of equal social force/value, will cause varying impressions which may cause differing effects; any algorithmic mechanisms applied will observe and apply a simple value to each circumstance without the understanding to know which evolutionary processes have or have not been impressioned upon.
4. Talent is fashioned to a world lottery system but opportunity is always cultivated by the more just society. For this reason, people selected from a group of peers to offer reasoned and compassionate verdict to then be further examined and sentence/justice applied is the best solution for equitable fair-minded CJS.
5. Variable 1 cannot be infinite fashioned from the metaphysical realm despite near-infinite capability. Variable 2 always drawn from a broken/negative/selfish/criminal world.
B. The current burden of CJS was cultivated by racial and discriminatory prejudice(s) e.g. “redlining” and/or lack of social mobility for all peoples/creeds/nations/cultures being under the jurisdiction of the CJS and moreover this discrimination has been taught and/or instilled by the very educational institutions established to protect and perpetuate a notion of free-indiscriminate CJS. Turning to/utilization of any algorithmic mechanism or machined learning to expedite the solution is as though cheating on a test or turning to the cat in the hat for some magical non-logical solution rather that apologizing and putting in the more difficult work of social-equality for all under the jurisdictional umbrella. Analogous to taking hydroxy-cut instead of practiced exercise and then wondering why after it seemed to be working your heart suddenly fails. Trial/Temptation to Perseverance to Proven Character to Hope. Everyone needs Hope.

Algorithms are not the problem, nor are they unethical by nature or use. It is the height of rationality to use an algorithm to solve uncertainty. Much of what we consider inevitable without proof is likely not certain at all. Though algorithms often don't provide certainty in their answers, they can prove the best solutions possible to philosophical questions that themselves defy logical proof. These are some of the most interesting questions in philosophy. What is rational? What is the nature of our thought? How to Live?

COMPAS, the public safety assessment (PSA) program featured in Holly's report, was featured in a story by ProPublica in 2016. This specific program was accurate and precise in predicting recidivism across Black and White defendants in 61% of cases. However, in the 39% of the cases where it failed, COMPAS was twice as likely to classify White defendants as low risk – who then later committed new crimes, while Black defendants were twice as likely not to recidivate when rated as high risk. This injustice is a huge problem. I'm not sure how the judicial system did before using the program, but it seems this reflects the training set. If algorithms in the best case only point this out we shouldn't use them to reinforce these models.

The case of Loomis v. Wisconsin is similarly discomfiting as the judge in this case, using the same PSA system, which was intended for bail hearings only, instead uses COMPAS as a sentencing tool.

No one is going to deny the goodness of a computer. We are all too immersed in the standard of living computers provide for us all. Something is alluring about algorithms and computational artifice.

Iris Berent's 'The Blind Storyteller' (she was a guest on the PT: The Examined Year: 2020 ) posits dualism as innate human behavior. Berent's argument is based on her own and cited studies reflecting experimental philosophy at its best. I would extend this innate dualism to an uninterrogated and unhealthy surrender of humanity to the power of models, both internal and external, as suggested and validated by algorithms.

In addition to exposing existing models of bias and truth, algorithms can also create false models beyond the human minds' capacity to understand. Inaccurate AI-driven models of thought and action are the best argument not to surrender matters of justice, ethics, and morality to an algorithm. I wish Ken and Josh had discussed this along with the capacity for algorithms to derive truth beyond human understanding.

I share Ken's resignation that this human surrender to the coming singularity is unavoidable. A few brains are working on algorithmic safety as a project. The keys to this safety are transparency, fairness, and accurate representation of human qualia. Built on these three pillars – I see a safe path for humanity. Barring this, we need to bow down to the one we serve. Regardless, we are going to get the one we deserve.

Cross post with the 2021 show -//m.f8r7.com/shows/ethics-algorithms