Symposium Posters
So Real It’s Scary – Deep Fake and Voice Mimicry Technology
Peyton Black, Joshua Evers, Eleanna Janowski, Mikayah Oxendine
Abstract: With the advancement of artificial intelligence, facial and voice mimicry software like DeepFake and Microsoft’s VALL-E are creating increasingly convincing replications of non-consenting individuals’ likenesses. This creates a major ethical dilemma, as the products of such software can be used to harm the subject’s reputation by making them seemingly say or do something they never said or did. Celebrities, politicians, and online entertainers are most at risk, seeing as they already have a large repository of reference footage online for the AI to use. Greater regulation should be in place to prevent this technology from being used maliciously.
AI’s Impact on Ghost Work
Julia Crume, Cody Garvin, Rashi Jagani, Matthew Stavish
The increasing prevalence of artificial intelligence (AI) has left many individuals concerned that their jobs will be automated. However, there are many tasks, such as translation, content moderation, and image-tagging, that cannot be completed without a human touch. As a result, there is a workforce of people performing these tasks on contractual basis for little pay and no benefits; this gig work is often referred to as “ghost work”. Our research analyzes the ethical implications of ghost work, and how the nature of this work will evolve as the automation power of AI grows.
AI and the Future of Work: Navigating Ethical Dilemmas in the Use of Predictive Analytics and Machine Learning
Lauren Allen, Hao Zhang, Laura Tinkler
The ethical implications of AI’s impact on employment and the labor market are explored. Issues such as the displacement of human workers, surveillance, and the future of work are examined. The perspectives of workers, employers, governments, and AI technology developers are analyzed. Possible courses of action are suggested, including upskilling workers, gradual introduction of AI, governmental regulations, and continued research and education. It is found that the ethical implementation of AI requires transparency, accountability, and fairness to avoid perpetuating workplace inequalities.
Breaking Barriers: Information Literacy for Underrepresented Communities
Alicia Slater, Andres Martinez, John Musselman
In an epoch of unprecedented access to information, the significance of information literacy cannot be emphasized enough, especially for underrepresented communities. This presentation delves into the vital role of data literacy in cracking down on systemic hindrances and empowering groups who encounter socioeconomic, linguistic, or technological obstacles. By comprehensively scrutinizing the challenges underrepresented communities face in accessing and utilizing information, we will exemplify how information literacy can be a powerful instrument for fostering social justice and inclusivity. We will analyze the conjunction of information literacy and social justice, showcasing how intersections can promote equity and inclusivity in various contexts.
Is AI Stealing from Artists?
Naomi Admasu, Stephen Cho, Ruiyi Di, Nina Geodakyan
The growth and advancement of Artificial Intelligence has boosted the development of creative artistic work. AI driven image generation has captured the attention of the Internet as users began to feed the technology prompts from concepts to artist’s names to generate art that emulates a particular style without crediting or compensating the original creators. Stability AI was trained on copyrighted content from the LAION-5B database, which indexed billions of images across the Internet without consent or licensing. Our project will
discuss the ongoing litigation of the technique behind the system while exploring intellectual property, copyright and fair use.
Do smartphones improve or reduce workplace productivity?
Nora McNabb, Thaddeus Jackson, Tyler Dean
The research question asks whether smartphones improve or reduce workplace productivity. This is a relevant question as smartphones are integral to the modern workplace. Smartphones promote efficient communication, easy access to information, and flexibility. Smartphones have the potential to not only benefit the company but also increase employee well-being by allowing employees to take a break from work. However, smartphone usage also has the potential to become a tool for distraction rather than a helpful resource. It is important to recognize when smartphone usage becomes more of a hindrance than an advantage.
Visual and Audio Deep Fakes: A Manipulation of Reality
Robert Barringer, Ellis Kay, Katie Webb
Deep fakes are computer-generated media that appear to be real but are actually synthetic. They can be used to create false videos or audio recordings of people saying or doing things they never did. The rise of realistic deep fakes poses a serious threat to society, as they can be used to spread misinformation, defame individuals, or manipulate public opinion. As technology advances, it is becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish deep fakes from authentic content, making it essential to develop new tools and techniques to detect and combat them.
Exploring Informed Consent through the lens of Terms & Conditions
Morgan Kennedy, Iteka Shah, Julianna Sorkin
Informed consent within the context of data protection and privacy ethics is an elusive concept to identify in practice. At a cursory level, by agreeing to terms and conditions or a privacy policy that is presented to users, it could be inferred that their consent is informed. This study seeks to confirm or disprove this hypothesis and explore the ethical implications if informed consent cannot be realistically assumed.
NSA Surveillance: Is it Really Worth It?
Jackson Sommers, William Ross Finegan
An examination of how the National Security Agency carries out surveillance in the digital age. This includes a look at what types of surveillance activities the National Security Agency carries out, when and how these activities are used, and what the potential benefits and downsides to these activities are.