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A Word: Is Big Tech Pro-Choice?

Slate News

Slate Podcasts

News, Politics, News Commentary

4.56K Ratings

🗓️ 15 May 2022

⏱️ 23 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In light of the threat to Roe v. Wade, abortion rights advocates are asking many companies –including in the tech industry– to take a stand. But many industry leaders are silent, and could be poised to profit from data that tracks abortion providers, advocates, and patients. On this week’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by Bärí Williams, an expert on diversity in tech and artificial intelligence. They talk about the political, financial, and social priorities that may be keeping tech leaders quiet about the abortion issue.  Guest: Bärí Williams, an expert on diversity in tech and AI. She’s also the COO of Bandwagon Fan Club, Inc., a data and identity analytics tech company focused on sports and entertainment.  Podcast production by Jasmine Ellis You can skip all the ads in A Word by joining Slate Plus. Sign up now at slate.com/awordplus for just $1 for your first month. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

There's gift I've ever received has to be a bike when I was younger, a pedal bike.

0:07.0

It was a sort of slick little road bike and I remember it was all like it was so it was all wrapped up

0:12.7

but it was so obvious what it was obviously because nothing shaped like a bike and I had a little ribbon on it and I was so

0:17.0

I guess. For that was a life changer and I'm still sort of big on cycling around my area now so for that one change me a little.

0:24.0

Enjoy in every sip with red cups now back at Starbucks.

0:31.0

This is a word a podcast from Slate. I'm your host Jason Johnson. The anticipated end of Roe vs. Wade and national protection of abortion rights is forcing many American businesses to take a stand or explain why they won't and for tech companies that's complicated.

0:49.0

Mostly what you've been hearing are certain companies that are willing to assist their employees in getting this type of health care and that sounds all great on the surface until you think about the fact of like what is it that I have to tell Amazon about my personal business in order to get them to help facilitate me getting an abortion.

1:11.0

I'm a tech industry in the future of abortion rights coming up on a word with me Jason Johnson stay with us.

1:18.0

Welcome to a word a podcast about race and politics and everything else I'm your host Jason Johnson. The recent news that the Supreme Court is poised to overturn Roe vs. Wade has sent shock waves through much of the country.

1:44.0

Those who've opposed abortion rights are celebrating millions who believe in reproductive freedom are angry and many are scared about what the future holds.

1:53.0

And just as it has on other social and political issues big tech could play an outsize role in what happens next on abortion rights.

2:01.0

In addition to tech money heavily influencing our government officials the same companies that use artificial intelligence to predict our buying and viewing habits may have information about who is seeking an abortion and other reproductive health care.

2:15.0

To talk with us about that we're joined by attorney Barry Williams she analyzes bias and tech and AI she's also a diversity and equity consultant and COO of bandwagon fan club Inc.

2:26.0

A data and identity analytics tech company focused on sports and entertainment. Barry welcome to a word.

2:32.0

Thanks Jason happy to be here you've written and spoken extensively about how artificial intelligence can be used to discriminate what are concerns about how AI could be used like against people who are seeking abortions.

2:46.0

What's the thing we should worry about the thing that I would be most cognizant of is AI is used not just from a standpoint of thinking about facial recognition technology.

2:55.0

Or how to figure out if you have a good enough credit score to get a certain percentage on your home loans.

3:03.0

But when you think about how all those things can be combined that is the minority report issue black mirror all of that of the day.

3:12.0

So they're going to use AI to discern you know is this really an issue around is it the health of the mother health of the mother typically is going to deal with physical effects like if you're going to bleed out during the day.

3:24.0

If you're going to bleed out during childbirth if you're going to him rich. That has absolutely nothing to do with the mental health of the mother.

3:32.0

But I can guarantee you that some dude coding right now and his basement is not thinking about that at all.

3:38.0

And he is probably going to be the person that is discerning what the AI algorithm should be looking for.

...

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