Examine Microsoft AI principles - Inclusiveness

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Inclusiveness means ensuring that AI systems are fair, accessible, and empower everyone. Microsoft's Responsible AI standard recognizes that AI creators must proactively design AI to include all people, communities, and geographies - especially those areas of society historically underrepresented.

Microsoft's approach to inclusive AI

Microsoft's Responsible AI standard for inclusiveness means:

  • AI systems work well for diverse users and groups. They don't disadvantage some people.
  • AI systems are accessible. Anyone can use AI systems easily, regardless of physical or mental abilities.
  • AI systems are available worldwide, even in developing countries. AI systems can't exclude certain geographies.
  • People from different backgrounds and communities provide input into the development of AI systems.
  • AI systems allow all users to benefit equally from their capabilities. They must empower everyone.

Examples of inclusive AI include:

  • Facial recognition that works across skin tones, ages, and genders.
  • Interfaces that support screen readers for the visually impaired.
  • Language translation that supports small regional dialects.
  • Teams that seek diverse perspectives when designing systems.

Microsoft's Responsible AI standard requires that everyone can access AI systems, regardless of their disability, language, or infrastructure barriers. Responsible AI solutions must enable full global inclusion by:

  • Offering alternative modes of interaction such as voice control, captions, and screen readers.
  • Supporting adaptation into different languages and local cultural contexts.
  • Working offline and with limited connectivity and computing resources.

Diagram showing a person holding a camera over an image of the world made up of all sorts of people's faces.

Addressing historical bias

Many AI systems today contain biases that exclude or harm minorities. For example:

  • Image recognition that's more error-prone for women and people of color.
  • Automated recruiting tools that preference majority demographics.
  • Product features that implicitly encode gender, ethnic or cultural bias.

Through Responsible AI, AI creators should acknowledge these issues and take steps to address them through:

  • Inclusive design practices that consider diverse users.
  • Testing systems for fairness across user segments.
  • Proactively detecting and removing bias of all forms.
  • Providing controls and transparency into system behaviors.

With vigilance, society can work to remove bias and promote fairness.

A shared responsibility

While Microsoft aims to set a high standard, achieving truly inclusive AI requires participation across the entire industry. Every AI creator has a part to play through:

  • Speaking up against exclusionary practices or harms.
  • Advocating for greater diversity in the teams building AI systems.
  • Considering how their work impacts the less privileged.
  • Holding themselves and colleagues accountable to inclusive principles.

Microsoft's obligation is to ensure that its AI systems empower people equitably worldwide. Inclusive AI requires continuous vigilance, sincere self-reflection, and perseverance. But the rewards are great when we get it right - technology that unites humanity, helps bridge divides, and benefits all people. The promise of Responsible AI requires this spirit.