Meta recently selected a team of external advisors to offer insights on its artificial intelligence strategy. This advisory group consists of four White men, who are tech entrepreneurs and investors.
The purpose of this group, according to the tech giant, is to provide periodic guidance to Meta's management on strategic opportunities related to their technology and product roadmap. This decision comes as Meta prepares to invest a significant amount of money this year in AI infrastructure, research, and product development.
The council for Meta consists of Patrick Collison, the co-founder and CEO of Stripe; Nat Friedman, a tech investor and former CEO of GitHub; Tobi Lütke, the founder and CEO of Shopify; and Charlie Songhurst, a tech investor previously involved in strategic decisions at Microsoft. A Meta spokesperson has clarified that the group members will not receive payment.
Despite the group's extensive collective experience, Meta is facing criticism for not including women or people of color in the advisory group. The lack of diversity is evident as the group only comprises wealthy, White, male individuals from Silicon Valley, all in their 30s or 40s.
Meta headquarters pictured on February 02, 2023 in Menlo Park, California.
Meta headquarters pictured on February 02, 2023 in Menlo Park, California.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
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Meta's stock dropped by 15% due to their 'aggressive' AI spending plans. This situation is similar to what happened at OpenAI last year. After a leadership change, OpenAI faced criticism for having a board made up entirely of White men. However, they later addressed this issue by adding three women directors to the board.
Artificial intelligence is set to shake things up in various aspects of our lives in the near future, changing the way we find jobs, work, enjoy entertainment, and seek information.
The foundation of AI systems lies in extensive data sets, primarily composed of human-generated content from the internet. However, experts warn that this reliance on human input may amplify existing biases present in online conversations, but on a much larger and concerning scale.
Historically, women and people of color have often experienced the negative impacts of technological advancements. This underscores the importance of including them in decision-making processes. For example, women are now increasingly becoming victims of nonconsensual pornography created by AI. Additionally, Meta's AI-generated photo tool recently faced criticism for struggling to accurately depict couples or friends from diverse racial backgrounds.
Furthermore, research from last year indicated that Meta's Facebook algorithm may be reinforcing gender stereotypes by targeting users with job postings based on gender. It is worth noting that the company itself does not allow advertisers to target ads based on gender.
Joy Buolamwini, founder of the Algorithmic Justice League, emphasized the importance of ensuring that the design, development, and deployment of AI systems reflect the communities they will impact. According to Buolamwini, when AI systems serve as gatekeepers of opportunities, it is crucial to have oversight that is representative of those affected by them.
Meta was contacted for a comment on the council's lack of diversity but did not respond immediately.
Editor's P/S:
The lack of diversity in Meta's advisory group highlights a persistent problem in the tech industry. Despite the growing importance of AI, the leadership and decision-making bodies in this field remain dominated by a narrow segment of the population. This homogeneity not only limits the perspectives and experiences considered but also perpetuates biases that can have far-reaching consequences.
The exclusion of women and people of color from Meta's advisory group is particularly concerning given the well-documented history of AI systems amplifying existing societal biases. Without diverse representation, the group's recommendations may overlook or even exacerbate these biases, potentially leading to AI products and services that further marginalize already disadvantaged communities. It is essential that Meta and other tech companies prioritize diversity and inclusion in their AI initiatives to ensure that the benefits and risks of this transformative technology are equitably distributed.
