Quick thread about @POLITICOEUTech AI:Decoded today.

I have questions about their extensive coverage of a report by U.S. think tank "Center for Data Innovation". 1/7

The report takes a problematic " #EU losing the #AI race" frame, which implies that:

a) We're all in a race to develop AI (are we?)
b) We all have the same goal (= more AI)
c) More AI = good (is it?). 2/7

Coverage of the report takes up almost 1/4 of the newsletter, not decoding it or putting question marks but _literally_ covering it.

This is not the critical take we usually get from Politico. This matters bc their coverage confers legitimacy on the report's findings. 3/7

The lack of critical reflection is surprising given that 2 min of Internet sleuthing reveals that:

Center for Data Innovation = part the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation

which is supported by a slew of corporations

receipts: https://itif.org/our-supporters  4/7

Likewise, the EU transparency register shows that

Center for Data Innovation = an associate member of the European Internet Forum

which is supported by a slew of corporations

receipts: https://www.internetforum.eu/committee/members-area.html 5/7

So clearly, the Center for Data Innovation has skin in the game.

And journalists should take care to mention that. 6/7

Again, nothing wrong with referencing a report but the current newsletter makes it read like AI:decoded agrees with the findings, rather than helping its readers unpack them for what they are. 7/7

Footnote: surprised to find the letter also covered the environmental impact of AI, but didn't once mention the massive scandal of @Google firing a prominent WOC scholar over raising similar concerns. https://www.technologyreview.com/2020/12/04/1013294/google-ai-ethics-research-paper-forced-out-timnit-gebru/

also, this is not a strong show of professionalism by the Center for Data Innovation when @accessnow raised concerns about the report earlier today. https://twitter.com/infofannny/status/1353693159197466625?s=20