Session: AI for Kids: Unlocking the Promise of AI Through Ethical Use
Meaningful advancements in artificial intelligence hold big promise across many facets of life - whether it’s simplifying workflows, personalizing healthcare, or helping children to learn to read. But AI is not without risk -- raising legitimate concerns about bias, privacy, and accuracy. As we build toward a more automated world, defining the ethical parameters for AI is paramount. As Founder and Executive Chair of SoapBox Labs, the world's first voice technology designed specifically for kids, Dr. Patricia Scanlon is developing AI technology designed to help young kids who are still developing their speech. As voice technology becomes more prevalent in the classroom and at home, the risks must guide design. Ethical use-- including data privacy, tech security, and anti-bias-- must be the first principle.
Cheaper and quicker won’t work when it comes to building AI systems for kids -- or adults. Developers, educators, and experts must work together to build intentional, inclusive data sets that take racial, ethnic, gender, and dialect diversity into account, make their models and assumptions transparent, and approach products with an honest assessment for accuracy. In this talk, Dr. Scanlon will demystify AI and help leaders understand how taking an ethical AI approach is the right approach.
Bio
Dr. Patricia Scanlon holds a PhD in Speech Recognition and Artificial Intelligence from University College Dublin. She has over 20 years’ experience working in speech recognition technology, including at Bell Labs and IBM. Inspired by her oldest child and her background as a speech engineer, Dr. Scanlon founded SoapBox Labs in 2013 to redefine how children interact with technology using their voices. An acclaimed TEDx speaker, Dr. Scanlon has been named one of the world’s top women in tech by Forbes and a “Visionary in Voice” by industry leading publication Voicebot.AI.