The Hidden Biases Built Into Every AI System

Dr. Joy Buolamwini is a computer scientist, AI researcher, and founder of the Algorithmic Justice League. Her work has exposed how bias in artificial intelligence systems can reinforce inequality at scale and why the risks of AI go far beyond the headlines.

In this conversation, Dr. Buolamwini and I explore how AI systems inherit human bias and why these biases are not just technical flaws, but deeper issues rooted in the data used to train AI.

We also talk about the invisible ways AI is already shaping our lives, from algorithmic scoring and data brokers to biometric surveillance systems that most people don’t even realize they are part of.

Finally, we explore what she means when she says AI could “kill us slowly.” Not through one dramatic event, but through long-term, systemic harm that limits opportunities, reinforces inequality, and quietly reshapes society over time.

Grab a copy of Dr. Joy Buolamwini's book here. (amazon.com/Unmasking-AI-Mission-Protect-Machin…)

Timestamps:

– Can AI “Kill Us Slowly”?
– The Origin of the “Coded Gaze”
– How Bias Gets Embedded in AI Systems
– The AI Systems Quietly Shaping Your Life
– Why Biometrics and Surveillance Matter
– The Risks of Facial Recognition at Airports
– Existential Risk vs. Systemic Harm
– What Joy Means by “AI Could Kill Us Slowly”
– The Corporate Surveillance State
– When AI Gets It Wrong in the Real World
– Bias in Healthcare and Wearables
– How Bias Shows Up in Hiring and Opportunity
– The Hidden Risks of AI Photo Trends
– What Parents Should Know About Posting Kids Online
– The Future of “Faceless” Resistance
– What You Can Do Right Now
– “Data Isn’t Destiny”
– What Tech Builders Need to Do
– How to Get Involved
– Poetry, Resistance, and Closing Reflections

The Hidden Biases Built Into Every AI System | Dr. Joy Buolamwini

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