Research: People attribute white racial identity to artificial intelligence
A new study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology reveals that people often perceive artificial intelligence systems as white, even in the absence of physical characteristics. This perception influences user trust in AI and the perceived authority of its recommendations.
Led by Monica Gamez-Djokic of Purdue University and Adam Waytz of Northwestern University, the research demonstrates that people project social hierarchies and racial identities onto artificial intelligence systems.
The research, which included five main studies and various additional experiments, determined that participants in the U.S., India, and Japan frequently categorized abstract AI systems as white. In tests conducted in the U.S., it was observed that participants associated AI with whiteness regardless of their own racial backgrounds.
Researchers suggest that this perception is linked to societal stereotypes that associate whiteness with technical expertise and intelligence. Furthermore, the study revealed that users who perceive AI as whiter find the recommendations provided by the system more persuasive.
Assessment: The findings indicate that AI is not viewed by users as a neutral technology; rather, existing societal biases are being applied to automated systems.
Sources
- psypost.org · Link