Algorithmic Bias with Best Selling Author Hilke Schellmann
Overview
In this episode of the Data Bytes Podcast, we welcome Hilke Schellmann, an Assistant Professor of Journalism and AI Expert at New York University, and the author of "The Algorithm." Hilke brings a wealth of experience from her previous roles, including Reporter/Producer at H2H Films, Director of Video Journalism at Columbia University, and Producer at VICE Media. The discussion delves into the critical issues outlined in her book, focusing on the biases in AI-driven hiring practices and how job seekers can navigate this landscape. Hilke shares striking examples of algorithmic bias and offers practical advice for job seekers. The conversation also touches on the growing use of AI in workplace surveillance, highlighting concerning trends and providing insights on protecting privacy and rights. Lastly, Hilke emphasizes the need for regulatory changes to address the misuse of AI in the workplace and discusses how employees, labor advocates, and policymakers can collaborate to ensure ethical AI development and deployment.
About Hilke:
Hilke Schellmann, is an Emmy award winning investigative reporter and assistant professor of journalism at New York University.
As a contributor to The Wall Street Journal and The Guardian, Schellmann writes about holding artificial intelligence (AI) accountable. In her book, The Algorithm: How AI Decides Who Gets Hired, Monitored, Promoted, and Fired, And Why We Need To Fight Back (Hachette), she investigates the rise of AI in the world of work. Drawing on exclusive information from whistleblowers, internal documents and real‑world tests, Schellmann discovers that many of the algorithms making high‑stakes decisions are biased, racist, and do more harm than good.
Her four part investigative podcast and print series on AI and hiring for MIT Technology Review was a finalist for a Webby Award.
Her documentary Outlawed in Pakistan, which played at Sundance and aired on PBS FRONTLINE, was recognized with an Emmy, an Overseas Press Club, and a Cinema for Peace Award amongst others. In her investigation into student loans for VICE on HBO, she uncovered how a spigot of easy money from the federal government is driving up the cost of higher education in the U.S. and is even threatening the country’s international competitiveness. The documentary was named a 2017 finalist for the Peabody Awards.
A former Director of Video Journalism at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism, Schellman also spearheaded video coverage as a Multimedia Reporter for the New York section of The Wall Street Journal. Her work has appeared in several publications including The New York Times, VICE, HBO, PBS, TIME, ARD, ZDF, WNYC, National Geographic, The Guardian, Glamour, and The Atlantic.
Schellmann’s work has been generously supported by the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, MIT Knight Science Fellowship, The Pulitzer Center AI Accountability Network and the NYU Journalism Venture Capital Fund.
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