Imagine you’re 60 years old. You’ve worked hard throughout your life and retired some time ago. As time passes, you realize you need something fulfilling to occupy yourself with. Teaching comes to mind—something you’ve always been passionate about. Confident in your qualifications, you submit an application to an online tutoring platform like iTutor. However, to your dismay, your application is rejected—not because you lack qualifications or don’t fit the company culture, but because you’ve crossed an arbitrary age limit. This is what iTutor has been accused of doing to hundreds of candidates, discriminating against them based solely on age.
This past summer, during Communication Week, my team presented on the ethical use of AI in filtering candidates’ resumes in hiring processes. It was during this research that I realized the impact data can have on our lives. I discovered that AI algorithms—like the ones that power tools such as ChatGPT—can often reflect biases, skewing results towards certain groups while marginalizing others. It became clear that the technology we rely on is not as neutral as we assume.
Listening to my classmates’ presentations about other abuses of data and AI tools expanded my understanding. I learned how AI, when misused, can be weaponized for fraud, scams, and illegal activities that exploit innocent people. The potential for harm in the current data landscape is alarming, and it’s easy to jump to the conclusion that we should reject AI altogether. But before we do that, let me introduce you to Tony Quan.
Tony is an LA-based artist who has ALS, a degenerative nerve disorder that has left him fully paralyzed, except for his eye movements. Despite his physical limitations, Tony’s mind is as sharp as everyone else’s, and his passion for art as much as anyone else’s. In 2011, thanks to advancements in data and AI, Tony became the first graffiti artist to create art using only his eye movements. The technology gave him a voice and an outlet for his creativity—a privilege many of us take for granted. This story demonstrates the true potential data and AI can offer.
Instead of rejecting AI entirely due to its flaws, we should focus on addressing the unethical aspects of its application. The industry can be reformed with targeted regulations, transparency, and accountability. A perfect example of this is the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which emphasizes the protection of personal data and privacy. With similar legislation, we can set clear expectations for companies and deter bad actors in this landscape.
As we navigate the rapidly evolving world of AI and data, it’s crucial to remember that these technologies are not inherently good or bad—they are tools. Their impact depends entirely on how we choose to use them. By holding companies accountable, implementing protective legislation, and encouraging ethical practices, we can ensure that data and AI serve as forces for good. From empowering marginalized communities to revolutionizing industries, the potential is vast—so long as we remain vigilant in safeguarding against their misuse. We must embrace innovation, not fear it, and shape it with responsibility, empathy, and foresight.
Resources:
The disabled artists using tech to defy their bodies’ boundaries | Dazed (dazeddigital.com)
EUR-Lex – 02016R0679-20160504 – EN – EUR-Lex (europa. eu)
Columnist: Arman Momand