Jun 10, 2019 - Technology

Google CEO Sundar Pichai on accurate representation in facial recognition technology

Ina Fried, author of Login

While Google made much at its I/O conference about the ability to do more with less data, the rise of machine learning could add pressure for Google and others to step up their data collection efforts.

  • "AI needs training data, but we can get at the data many ways," Pichai said during his interview with "Axios on HBO." "I don't think AI and privacy are at odds with each other."

The big picture: Pichai acknowledged that some types of AI today encode social biases — facial recognition, for instance, tends to be better at detecting white men than women and people of color.

  • As for whether the problem is that it's mostly white men designing the systems, Pichai said, "I have no doubt the outcomes would be better if the people working on it are also representative."

Go deeper: Exclusive interview: Google CEO defends YouTube practices

Go deeper

Axios
Updated 40 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Eniola Odetunde/Axios

  1. Global: Total confirmed cases as of 6:30 p.m. ET: 34,124,948 — Total deaths: 1,016,723 — Total recoveries: 23,703,113 — Map.
  2. U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 6:30 p.m. ET: 7,273,244 — Total deaths: 207,605 — Total recoveries: 2,840,747 — Total tests: 103,946,170 — Map.
  3. Politics: House prepares to pass revised COVID relief bill as White House talks hit roadblock — Biden to expand voter outreach with in-person canvassing amid pandemic.
  4. Health: Health officials urge flu shots, warning of "twindemic" with COVID-19 — Coronavirus infections rise in 25 states.
  5. Business: Remdesivir is good business for Gilead — Amazon says over 19,800 employees contracted coronavirus — Doomsday has arrived for tens of thousands of workers.
Go deeper (<1 min. read)Arrow
Ursula Perano
2 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Doomsday has arrived for tens of thousands of workers

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

Federal coronavirus aid for airlines expires on Thursday with no renewal in sight, meaning massive layoffs for the industry aren't far behind.

The big picture: Airline workers aren't alone on the unemployment line. Oil companies, tire manufacturers, book publishers and insurers are among those that have announced tens of thousands of layoffs. Federal aid through the CARES Act earlier this year delayed most layoffs — until now.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow
Alison Snyder, author of Science
4 hours ago - Science

How the brain handles the unknown

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

Uncertainty can be hard for humans. It drives anxiety, an emotion neuroscientists are trying to understand and psychologists are trying to better treat.

Why it matters: Under the threat of a virus, job insecurity, election uncertainty, and a general pandemic life-in-limbo that is upending school, holidays and more, people are especially anxious.

Go deeper (2 min. read)Arrow