
MIT Symposium Highlights Ethical and Social Dimensions of Technology Deployment
Cambridge, MA – A recent symposium at MIT showcased pioneering research integrating social, ethical, and technical considerations in computing. Fifteen TED Talk-style presentations by MIT faculty, supported by seed grants from the Social and Ethical Responsibilities of Computing (SERC) initiative at the MIT Schwarzman College of Computing, highlighted the diverse projects addressing the complex challenges at the intersection of technology and society.
Nikos Trichakis, co-associate dean of SERC, emphasized the initiative’s commitment to fostering progress in ethical computing. “SERC is committed to driving progress at the intersection of computing, ethics, and society. The seed grants are designed to ignite bold, creative thinking around the complex challenges and possibilities in this space,” said Trichakis. Caspar Hare, also co-associate dean of SERC, noted the symposium represented “a collective community judgment about the most exciting work when it comes to research, in the social and ethical responsibilities of computing being done at MIT.”
The full-day symposium, held on May 1st, revolved around four key themes: responsible health-care technology, artificial intelligence governance and ethics, technology in society and civic engagement, and digital inclusion and social justice. The event featured presentations on algorithmic bias, data privacy, the social implications of AI, and the human-machine relationship, along with a poster session showcasing projects by SERC Scholars.
Key Highlights from the Symposium:
Making the Kidney Transplant System Fairer: Dimitris Bertsimas presented an analytics algorithm that drastically reduces the time required for kidney transplant allocation, from six hours to just 14 seconds. This innovation, developed in collaboration with the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), allows for rapid evaluation of policy scenarios, potentially saving lives. According to James Alcorn, senior policy strategist at UNOS, this optimization radically changes the turnaround time for evaluating different simulations of policy scenarios.
The Ethics of AI-Generated Social Media Content: Adam Berinsky and Gabrielle Péloquin-Skulski explored the impact of labeling AI-generated content on social media. Their research indicated that the type of label used significantly affects users’ perception of deception and engagement with the content. “The big takeaway from our initial set of findings is that one size doesn’t fit all,” said Péloquin-Skulski, highlighting the need for labels that accurately convey both the process and veracity of AI-generated content.
Using AI to Increase Civil Discourse Online: Lily Tsai discussed the use of generative AI to enhance online deliberation. Her team has developed DELiberation.io, an AI-integrated platform designed to foster more civil and productive online discussions. Tsai emphasized the importance of assessing technologies for positive downstream outcomes, rather than solely focusing on maximizing user numbers. The project is developing modules for DELiberation.io and planning field studies in partnership with the government of the District of Columbia.
A Public Think Tank that Considers All Aspects of AI: Catherine D’Ignazio and Nikko Stevens introduced Liberatory AI, a public think tank examining the corporate AI landscape and envisioning pathways for societal transformation. Liberatory AI brings together researchers from various institutions to contest the status quo, think bigger-picture, and reorganize resources in this system in hopes of a larger societal transformation,” said D’Ignazio.
The MIT Ethics of Computing Research Symposium underscored the critical need to address the social and ethical implications of rapidly advancing technologies. The SERC initiative continues to support research that promotes responsible innovation and ensures technology benefits society as a whole. Recordings of many of the presentations are available on YouTube.