In the realm of artificial intelligence, it’s no secret that the performance of AI systems is intrinsically tied to the data they are trained on. This correlation becomes increasingly critical in the era of Generative AI, where massive datasets can be either shrouded in proprietary secrecy or too vast to scrutinize effectively. Join us for a talk by Kasia Chmielinski (Stanford University affiliate and the co-founder of the Data Nutrition Project) about the importance of data standards and transparency tools to mitigate bias in algorithmic systems. They will discuss overall trends in the transparency space, with a deep-dive into the Dataset Nutrition Label, an intervention that highlights critical information about a dataset such as provenance, quality, and potential biases. Analogous to a food nutrition label, the Dataset Nutrition Label helps practitioners investigate the “health” of a dataset before its use in algorithmic systems, thus driving better usage and mitigating potential bias.

Kasia Chmielinski (they/them) is the Co-Founder of the Data Nutrition Project, an initiative that builds tools to mitigate bias in artificial intelligence, and a fellow at Stanford University focused on building responsible data systems. Previously, they held positions at the United Nations (OCHA), US Digital Service (EOP / OMB), MIT Media Lab, McKinsey & Company, and Google. They are also a purveyor of multimedia stories, and their work has been supported by organizations including the Rockefeller Foundation, Sundance Institute, Vision Maker Media, and NPR. When not thinking about data, Kasia is usually cycling or birdwatching around the Northeastern United States.

This lecture is a part of The Future of AI: Social and Cultural Aspects online lecture series that brings international experts to discuss the philosophy of AI, AI and post-digital aesthetics, cultural impacts of AI, AI (in) art, non-human agency, AI-driven social transformations, and, more generally, our coexistence with AI and digital technologies in all aspects of daily life. The series is organized by the Digital Society Lab [DigLab] of the Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory.

The event will be photographed and recorded due to publishing on social networks, the website and other information channels for the purpose of promoting the event and activities of the Institute.