Closing the socio–technical gap in AI: the need for measuring practitioners’ attitudes and perceptions
File(s)Accepted PDF.pdf (180.09 KB)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Sadek, Malak
Calvo, Rafael A
Mougenot, Céline
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
This article discusses the need for artificial intelligence (AI) practitioners to shift their focus from a purely technical mindset toward a more human-centered approach. Technical experts are trained to consider the technical aspects of their work, which can cause them to overlook important socio–technical considerations and implications, resulting in a socio–technical gap in AI-based systems [4]. Unhelpful practitioner cultures can lead to them “rejecting practices or downplaying the importance of values or the possible threats of ignoring them” [1]. While efforts are being made to create ethical and more human-centered AI systems, there is a need for corresponding changes in the attitudes and perceptions of AI practitioners. Practitioners need to move away from a sole focus on compliance with responsible AI guidelines and regulations toward active reflection and empathy based on a true understanding of the profound effects their decisions can have on different stakeholders. However, one problematic barrier to beginning work on interventions that target practitioners’ mindsets and attitudes is the lack of a standardized method for evaluating or measuring the effectiveness of design interventions on their attitudes and perceptions. This article suggests the need for clearer metrics within the human–computer interaction (HCI) community for looking at practitioners’ attitudes toward socio–technical factors in AI design.
Date Issued
2024-06
Date Acceptance
2024-05-01
Citation
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine, 2024, 43 (2), pp.88-91
ISSN
0278-0097
Publisher
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Start Page
88
End Page
91
Journal / Book Title
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine
Volume
43
Issue
2
Copyright Statement
Copyright © 2024 IEEE. This is the author’s accepted manuscript made available under a CC-BY licence in accordance with Imperial’s Research Publications Open Access policy (www.imperial.ac.uk/oa-policy)
License URL
Identifier
http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/mts.2024.3392280
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2024-05-16