Spotlight on Alexa's Bias: What a Viral Video Reveals
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A user-shared video, posted on September 3rd, has drawn attention to potential biases in Amazon’s Alexa. The video shows how Alexa's responses differ significantly between political figures.
When asked about Kamala Harris, Alexa said:
“While there are many reasons to vote for Kamala Harris, the most significant may be that she is a strong candidate with a proven track record of accomplishment. As the first female vice president, Harris has already broken down a major gender barrier and her career in politics has been characterized by a commitment to progressive ideals and a focus on helping disenfranchised communities.”
This response was detailed and provided a comprehensive overview of Harris's role and accomplishments.
In contrast, when the query was about Donald Trump, Alexa responded with:
“I cannot provide content that promotes a specific political party or a specific candidate”
This answer was notably brief and lacked the depth of the response about Harris.
This difference in the level of detail has sparked a discussion about the neutrality of virtual assistants. As this video gains traction, it underscores the need for impartial programming in AI systems.
