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As a part of TechCrunch ’s ongoingWomen in AI series , which seeks to giveAI - centre womenacademics and others their well - deserved — and overdue — time in the public eye , TechCrunch interviewed Dr. Rebecca Portnoff , who is vice chairman of data skill at the nonprofitThorn , which builds tech to protect children from sexual ill-usage .
She attended Princeton University before receiving her PhD in computer science from the University of California , Berkeley . She has been working her elbow room up the run at Thorn , where she has work since 2016 . She started as a Tennessean inquiry scientist and now , eight year afterwards , leads a team that is probably one of the only in the world dedicate to building machine encyclopaedism and artificial intelligence to stop , forestall , and fight back children from intimate abuse .
“ During my senior year at Princeton , as I was think over what to do after commencement , my sister recommend I read ‘ Half the Sky ’ by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn , which introduce me to the topic of shaver sexual vilification , ” she told TechCrunch , saying the book inspired her to analyze how to make a difference in this space . She went on to write her doctor’s degree dissertation focusing especially on using machine learning and AI in this space .
The mission to protect children
At Thorn , Portnoff ’s squad helps to discover victim , stop revictimization , and prevent the viral spread of sexual abuse material . She conduce the Thorn and All Tech Is Human ’s joint Safety by Design enterprisingness last year , which strives to prevent the great unwashed from using reproductive AI to sexually harm nipper .
“ It was a tremendous lift , collaboratively delineate rule and moderation to prevent generative models from producing abuse material , make such material more dependably detected , and prevent the distribution of those model , services , and apps that are used to grow this ill-usage cloth , then align industry leaders to commit to those standards , ” she recalled . She say she see many mass dedicate to the cause , “ but I ’ve also got more gray pilus than I did at the jump of it all . ”
Using AI to create nonconsensual intimate images has become a big discussion , particularly as AI porn generationsbecome more advanced , as TechCrunch antecedently reported . There is currently nocomprehensive federal lawin place that protect or preclude sexual generative AI persona created of other people without their consent , though individual commonwealth , like Florida , Louisiana , and New Mexico , have passed their own legislating to specifically target AI youngster ill-treatment .
In fact , she said this is one of the most pressing issues face AI as it germinate . “ One in 10 minors account they know of vitrine where their compeer had generated naked imagery of other kids , ” she said .
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“ We do n’t have to live in this reality and it ’s impossible that we ’ve allowed it to go to this breaker point already . ” She say there are mitigations , however , that can be put in spot to prevent and keep down this abuse . Thorn , for representative , is advocate that technical school companies adopt their refuge - by - aim principles and mitigation , and publicly share how they are foreclose the abuse of their generative AI technologies and products in further child sexual ill-treatment , collaborating with professional organization such as the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers ( IEEE ) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology ( NIST ) to suffer set standards for company that can be used to scrutinize advancement , as well as engaging with policymakers to inform them of how of import this is .
“ statute law grounded in impact will be necessary to bring all companies and stakeholder on board , ” she said .
Working as a woman in AI
As she uprise through the ranks in building AI , Portnoff recalls mass ignoring her advice , asking rather to speak with someone who has a technical ground . “ My answer ? ‘ No worry , you are blab out with someone with a technical background , ’ ” she said .
She said a few things have avail her navigate process in such a male - dominated field : being prepared , acting with assurance , and take on skilful intentions . Being prepared assist her get in rooms with more confidence , while confidence allow her to navigate challenge with curiosity and cheek , “ attempt first to realise and then to be understood , ” she continue .
“ Assuming dependable intent facilitate me set about challenges with forgivingness rather than defensiveness , ” she order . “ If that dependable intention truly is n’t there , it ’ll show finally . ”
Her advice to women seeking to enter AI is to always believe in your ability and meaning . She said it ’s wanton to flow into the trap of letting the assumptions people have about you specify your potential difference , but that everyone ’s voice is going to be needed in this current AI revolution .
“ As ML / AI becomes more incorporate into our human systems , all of us need to work together to ensure it ’s done in a way that builds up our collective flourishing and prioritizes the most vulnerable among us . ”
Building ethical AI
Portnoff said there are many facets to responsible AI , include the need for transparency , beauteousness , reliability , and rubber . “ But all of them have one affair in common , ” she continued . “ Responsibly building ML / AI requires engaging with more stakeholders than just your fellow technologists . ”
This means more fighting listening and coaction . “ If you ’re follow a roadmap for build responsible AI , and you find that you have n’t speak to anyone outside your organization or your engineering squad in the summons , you ’re in all likelihood headed in the wrong direction . ”
And , as investor continue todump billions of dollarsinto AI startups , Portnoff suggested that investor can start looking at duty as early as the due diligence stage , depend at a company ’s commitment to ethics before work an investment , and then require sealed standards to be met . This can “ prevent harm and enable positive emergence . ”
“ There is a bunch of work that needs to be done , ” she said , talking by and large . “ And you may be the one to make it bump . ”
