Text: Michaela Nesvarova
We need technology that embraces
equality & social ‘I strongly believe that scientists need to take
into account the perspectives, values and biases they bring into science,’ says University of Twente
justice
researcher Cristina Zaga, who specializes in developing responsible design methods. She discusses the importance of making science more inclusive.
What does diversity and inclusion mean to you?
the table, collaborate, be reflective and have check points throughout
Can you explain how you incorporate this approach?
the design process. We need to be ‘I identify as intersectional feminist.
critical in our design practices, we
‘Responsible and inclusive design in AI
That might sound like a big or bad
need constant reflections on what
and robotics is really hard. The field is
word, but it essentially means that
we are building. We need to develop
built on engineering and on computer
I believe in society where everyone
and standardize responsible design
science, disciplines that are far from
has equal access to the societal
methods that are part of the
social sciences. Most scientists in the
podium, where everyone has equal
process. But that is not easy.
field are extremely sensitive to the
opportunities. That is something I work on in all aspects of my life.’
How can we make sure that design is inclusive?
topic and they want to work on it, but Responsible design is not only
the methods are not there yet. That is
about generating societal impact
the focus of my work. I want to make
and justice, it also has facets of
sure they can develop new technolo-
bringing scientific knowledge that
gies in a responsible way.
is really meaningful. We need to
28
‘We need to be honest with oursel-
bring knowledge that reflects a
I work in the field of embodied AI.
ves. We must take into account the
diversity of races, gender identities,
In this area we need to think of three
social and cultural structures that
bodies, ages, cultural practices and
aspects when creating an inclusive
are part of our context, as scien-
so on. Scientific knowledge built on
design: first, algorithms. We need to
tists and human beings. My field of
homogenous views fails to represent
have fair algorithms, use data that is
expertise is design of artificial intel-
the lived experience of the general
ethically sourced and that doesn’t
ligence (AI) and robotics. I advocate
population. Therefore embracing
perpetuate bias. Secondly, we need
that, as designers of these and
diversity, equity and inclusion is not
to think of the behavior of the
other technologies, we need to take
‘just’ a matter of social justice, but
technology. This type of technology
into account that – even without
is actually also good scientific prac-
communicates with the user and this
any malicious will – we bring our
tice. There are no systems in place
communication might be perceived
own values and biases into our
for this approach yet, but that is
as sexist or racist, for example. We
work. We need to put them all on
something I’m working on.’
therefore need to think of how the