Computing Bias • 12 min read

Human Biases Reflected As Computer Biases

Bias: prejudice in favor of or against a thing, person, or group

What is “computer bias”?

The existence of prejudiced outcomes in the decisions or predictions made by computer systems/algorithms. Bias can be implemented into algorithms because of human biases being intentionally inserted or because of the data utilized being biased.

Explicit Data: Information directly provided by user.

Implicit Data: Infomration that can inferred from explicit data.

Based on either explicit/implicit data that has been used to train an algorithm, whether intentionally introduced or during the process of training data generation, bias can be created.

A notable example of this is seen in Netflix, where there are is a human factor that drives bias: Netflix exclusives are placed ahead (a show that is a Netflix exclusive means that users will be more likely to stay with Netflix). The bias in this case is Netflix’s prioritzation towards Netflix-produced shows.

Hack 1:

What is another example of a human bias being implemented into an algorithm?

Answer: Online stores like amazon are paid by people who want to feature their products at the front page of the website.

Reducing Bias

Programmers should take action to reduce bias in algorithms used for computing innovations as a way of combating existing human biases. Softwares need to be unbiased, consider all everything, and reject human bias.

Things to consider when developing programs:

• What are potential sources of bias?
• Is your program enhancing or intentionally excluding?
• Are you receiving feedback from a widespread group of people?
• How could people who differ from you use your developments?

Hack 2:

What is another way a programmer can reduce bias in their softwares?

Answer: Taking data from a bigger sample size can help reduce bias because data won’t be focused on one group of people. This can help when programming because more variation will being present which will accurately describe the sample size.

Types of Bias in Software Development

Biases can be embedded at all levels of software development.

It can be intentional or unintentional. Some software development are made for a certain market and ensure that people of certain places or demographics can use them easily. However, this doesn’t mean that they are trying to exclude.

Examples:

Intentional:

• Games could be geared towards a certain age range (Talking Tom vs Valorant)
  • Game concepts
  • Music
  • Visuals

• WeChat and KakaoTalk
  • Almost everyone in China uses WeChat
  • KakaoTalk is the Korean version

Unintentional:

• Social media, Facebook vs. instagram

Hack 3:

What are some other examples of intentional and/or unintentional bias in innovations (games, social media, technology, etc.)?

Answer: One example of intentional bias in innovations can include book and movie genres. For example, romantic movies or book genres may be more biased to the female audience rather than other audiences which shows some intentional bias.

Homework

Question 1:

Define “computer bias” in your own words and explain how it can result from intentional or unintentional factors in software development. Give a brief example of this. Explain how programmers can actively work to reduce bias in their algorithms?

Answer: Computer bias is a prejudice or a favoring towards a group when programming algorithms in computer science. This can result from both intentional and unintentional bias because a group is being targetted to either appeal to them more or less in their program. One example of this are movie and tv show genres that cater more towards one gender group. In order to reduce bias, there can be a bigger range of diversity when it comes to including code, games, or social media for all groups of people.

Question 2:

Briefly describe the two types of bias in software development and provide examples from the gaming industry and social media platforms. How might biases in software design affect user engagement and experiences?

Answer:The two types of bias there is when working with software development is unintentional and intentional bias. One example of unintentional bias can be reccomending content on instagram that is similar to what the user has liked in the past. This would increase engagement because the user would get to see more content like the ones that he or she has liked. An example of intentional bias can be political advertising or propaganda on social media which is meant to incline people to vote for the desired person that the advertiser is advertising. This would effect the experiences of people on social media because it might misguide their views due to there being so much popularity of a political figure.