digital ethics - axbom.com

Each part of the diagram is explained din the post under the heading Overview of bias in machine learning

digital ethics

Diagram: Bias in Machine Learning

Understand the stages of machine learning where bias can, and often will, contribute to harm.

Illustration of a person with a white cane and dark glasses holding a phone. The person says ”Oh no… they put the link in the

digital guidance

Why ”link in comments” is a bad idea for LinkedIn accessibility

When humans adapt to technology they add obstacles to access content.

Line drawing of two people talking about a black box. Dialogue is described in post.

AI

Automation will resist change

Some tasks that are being handed over to automation should arguably never have been tasks in the first place. Or should at least be revised regularly. But instead of questioning and reinventing tasks, many will now be automated to run perpetually. And with no human involved, why would someone then

digital exploitation

Deepfake porn using any person on Instagram

When we can no longer control where our face appears, what happens to our perception of identity?

The poster from the article on a billboard at a public transport station. A blue truck is speeding in the background.

tools

If a hammer was like AI…

Computations will “estimate” your aim, tend to miss the nail and push for a different design. Often unnoticeably.

digital ethics

The Elements of AI Ethics

Let's talk about harm caused by humans implementing AI.

digital ethics

Communication Model for AI-Powered Chatbots

Improve the design of AI tools for ease-of-use and trustworthiness.

digital ethics

Recent Links on AI and Digital Ethics

Free list of links to most of the stuff I read.

digital guidance

UX book authors through the ChatGPT looking-glass

Alice asked the CheshireChat, that was sitting in a PC in tree, “What road do I take?” The Chat asked, “Where do you want to go?” “I don’t know,” Alice answered. “Then,” said the Chat, “it really doesn’t matter, does it?" As we engage with our curious chats,

Headphones and a phone with a screen showing a generic podcast being played.

digital ethics

AI Hype Podcast Playlist

As I recommend podcast episodes related to the AI Hype I add them to a playlist I've created using Listen Notes. You can add this playlist to your podcast player to be notified whenever I add a recommended episode (from any show). And listen right away, without having to search

Astronaut talking on a vintage phone. Astronaut says “OK.” and gets the exact same response in the handset: “OK.”

digital ethics

When your voice runs away from home

Cloning a voice can today be done with less than a minute of recorded material. But are you aware of who is using your voice and for what?

How to stop AI harm. Pause development of GPT-5 for six months. Boom. You're welcome!

digital ethics

Why that open letter urging an AI development pause is problematic

Applied ethics isn't a checklist. It's about putting in the time and effort to understand risks to wellbeing with the express intent of avoiding, mitigating and monitoring harm. It makes sense then to assume that the open call to pause AI development is a good thing. Well, yes – but no.

Man on a rocket flying away from a burning earth.

digital exploitation

Ignoring harm to others when you yourself benefit

How harmful does something need to be for people to stop using it? How much do you yourself need to benefit to choose to ignore the harm done to others? When I left Facebook some years ago I emphasised how it was the (very late) acknowledgement of harm done to

Tired computer worker, energy running low. Computer says: This is not a paywall. Worker says: yes it is.

digital guidance

It's still a paywall without money

"You need to register to keep reading. It’s still free to read – this is not a paywall" I'm growing tired of this wording. Yes, it is a paywall - the only difference is the type of currency you are paying with. If it wasn't a paywall there would be

A sausage with a cape like a superhero hovers in the foreground. Behind it is the moon, half covered by the sausage.

digital ethics

AI responsibility in a hyped-up world

It's never more easy to get scammed than during an ongoing hype. It's March 2023 and we're in the middle of one. Rarely have I seen so many people embrace a brand new experimental solution with so little questioning. Right now, it's important to shake off any mass hypnosis and

digital lifestyle

Overpowering TikTok filters

In a race towards the post-reality era, TikTok are leading the way. Image filters are now at a stage where they trigger visceral emotions and have a very real impact on psychological wellbeing. They have effects on self-esteem, self-image and confidence. More than that, they provide a glimpse of a

Photo of Stanislav Petrov in military uniform, circa 1983.

digital ethics

Three lessons from a man who averted nuclear war by not trusting a computer

On September 26, 1983, Stanislav Petrov made the correct decision to not trust a computer. The early warning system at command center Serpukhov-15, loudly alerting of a nuclear attack from the United States, was of course modern and up-to-date. Stanislav Petrov was in charge, working his second shift in place

digital ethics

Flashing content that can trigger seizures

World Ethical Data Forum autoplays a video at the top of their page that can trigger photosensitive epileptic seizures

digital ethics

The creepy sound of online trackers

I can't get the noise out of my head. People who watch the video express awe and disgust. And that is why Dutch software developer Bert Hubert's experiment is so powerful. It doesn't really uncover something that we shouldn't already know. Something we often choose to ignore. The brilliance is

Per Axbom speaking on stage at Front Conference

digital ethics

How to build the good and responsible thing @ #frontzurich

Per Axbom's keynote at Front Conference in Zürich, Switzerland. Presented on August 26, 2022.

Illustration of 3 astronauts asking How should I act, How should I be and What is my responsibility.

digital ethics

Digital Ethics and Moral Theory Explained

A brief guide to moral philosophy and how digital ethics fits within the branch of applied ethics.

Robot with a stop sign in front of a ballot box, asking "Are you hooman?". Four obscured letters at the bottom.

digital ethics

How captchas break democracy

A terrible captcha solution making it difficult to vote for many EU citizens.

Screenshot of Revue status message and a confectionery factory conveyor belt on a colorful background

copywriting

That Oompa Loompa message on Revue

As I'm moving my newsletter subscribers from Revue to a self-hosted platform I requested an export of my subscribers. The message on screen from Revue I got was this: We'll set our Oompa Loompas to work on exporting your subscribers and they'll send you an email once they're finished. I

Panda surfing away from shark-infested explosion towards a green island with an oak tree and flowers.

digital ethics

Bye, bye algorithm

Saying goodbye to Twitter, LinkedIn et al.

newsletter

Big Tech Wipeout

It’s been a very long time coming with so many hesitations and false starts over the years. I’ve truly wanted to commit to small tech, open source software and ensuring that I publish my content on my own platforms. Keeping the content from being used by others for