Good morning to everyone but University of Texas Computer Science department @UTCompSci, which has been using a biased machine learning system, flagged by their diversity office, to evaluate...*checks notes*.. PhD applications to @UTCompSci. https://www.insidehighered.com/admissions/article/2020/12/14/u-texas-will-stop-using-controversial-algorithm-evaluate-phd

Let's just take look shall we on who is U Of Texas' Computer Department to get a sense of why on earth something like this would be greenlit.... https://www.cs.utexas.edu/people .

Oh there's no underrepresented groups in the faculty you say? Ah, I see now.

The algorithm that was used to evaluate applications was actually not developed to help them identify the best candidate and reduce bias, but rather to SAVE TIME.

Let me repeat that: this algorithm was developed to help the committee save TIME and NOT reduce bias.

Wait, this has been going on for YEARS? Shall we take a look at who the graduate students have been over the past few years...

I don't think there is a SINGLE Black, Latinx, and/or Native person is the department. Someone prove me wrong:

“You seem to have built a model that builds in whatever bias your committee had in 2013 and you’ve been using it ever since.” - Steve Rolston of @UMDPhysics '

No lies detected.

Let me end this thread with this:

If you develop an algorithm that embeds the bias of your predominantly non-Black and Brown committee and then apply it every application, you're racist. That is actually the only explanation for using this mechanism to evaluate students.

Flagging this for my educator and tech folx @tressiemcphd @saragoldrickrab @dynarski @Sherrell_Dorsey @AdamMGrant @Data4BlackLives @jovialjoy @timnitGebru @rajiinio @DataSciBae @merbroussard

Let me use this time to RE-emphasize again why we need AI Ethics research that CENTERS Black and Brown people. How is it ethical to use a CLEARLY biased algorithm to evaluate the pipeline into said discipline that will build upon said algorithm?

Like FOH with that shit.

The AI ethics and bias space got leaders like Pedro whatever the hell is name is and then be saying #BlackLivesMatter . Nah y'all are just racist and sexist asf as @timnitGebru eloquently spells out: https://twitter.com/timnitGebru/status/1338528214050811908?s=20

Before this thread blows up, and it should so RT: I just want to shoutout faculty at my sister university @UofMaryland @UMDPhysics for keeping their peers accountable.

We would've never heard this story had they not said anything. @UTCompSci would've continued with this.

It just occurred to me that @UTCompSci is the school we know for sure is doing this, but what other departments are doing this? Because WOOOOOW. Just WOW.

Y'all notice how the article didn't name the faculty member who developed the mechanism. If you had the guts to make this tool, you should 10000000% be named.

I am still reeling from shock because yo what the f*ck? I just told my comp sci friends NOT to apply @UTCompSci.

Follow @yasmmeme who was on of the folx that weighed in on this mess: https://twitter.com/yasmmeme/status/1333670480574771201?s=20

One of my faves @polumechanos is weighing in as well, so check that out to: https://twitter.com/polumechanos/status/1338535469873852419?s=20