Presented By O’Reilly and Cloudera
Make Data Work
21–22 May 2018: Training
22–24 May 2018: Tutorials & Conference
London, UK

Executive Briefings: Killer robots and how not to do data science

Kate Vang (DataKind UK), Christine Henry (DataKind UK)
14:5515:35 Thursday, 24 May 2018
Executive Briefing, Law, ethics, and governance, Strata Business Summit
Location: Capital Suite 17 Level: Non-technical
Secondary topics:  Security and Privacy

Who is this presentation for?

  • Everyone who works with data

What you'll learn

  • Understand the questions you need to ask yourself to ensure you build responsible technology

Description

DataKind uses machine learning and AI to address complex challenges like global health, education, and climate change. The company has used satellite imagery to detect crop disease in Ethiopia, open data to combat corruption in the extractives industry, and predictive modeling to identify food bank users in need of extra help. DataKind bridges the gap between visionary social impact leaders and expert technologists to create safer, more ethical technologies not just to battle the problems we have today but to build a better tomorrow.

Many of DataKind’s projects involve sensitive data on vulnerable groups. DataKind acknowledges its responsibility to use this data appropriately. In 2017, the company crowdsourced a set of practical principles within its community. This is our Hippocratic oath:

  1. I will actively seek to consider harms and benefits of my data work.
  2. I will actively seek to understand the context of the data and tools I use.
  3. I will actively seek to allow others to understand the data and analysis choices I have made, now and for the future.
  4. I will actively seek to understand my own limits and the limits of the organizations involved.
  5. I will debate and discuss the ethical choices.

Kate Vang and Christine Henry explain what socially conscious AI looks like, what DataKind is doing to make it a reality, and some of the ethical conundrums they’ve encountered.

Photo of Kate Vang

Kate Vang

DataKind UK

Kate Vang is a data scientist at the One Campaign and a chapter lead at DataKind UK, where she consults with charities, NGOs, and corporations to find stories and insights in data. Previously, Kate worked in investment management at Värde Partners, where she held roles across risk management, trading, investment, data strategy, and portfolio strategy.

Photo of Christine Henry

Christine Henry

DataKind UK

Christine Henry is a product manager at IQVIA on a healthcare EMR data software platform and a volunteer at DataKind UK, where she consults with charities and nonprofits to find stories and insights in data. Christine is interested in the ethical and social impacts of data and technology and led the development of DataKind UK’s ethical principles for volunteers. Previously, Christine served in data-related roles in healthcare market forecasting, analysis, and market access. She holds a PhD in physical chemistry and a law degree.