A panel discussion titled ‘Artificial Intelligence, Black Realities: Unpacking AI’s True Impact’ delved into the specific implications and influences of AI on Black communities. The event, part of Philly Tech Week, featured experts discussing societal impacts, challenges of bias, and the importance of ethical oversight in AI technology.
On May 8, 2024, a panel discussion titled “Artificial Intelligence, Black Realities: Unpacking AI’s True Impact” took place in Germantown at the P4 Hub, during Philly Tech Week. The event, hosted by WURD’s tech and lifestyle expert Stephanie Humphrey, was sponsored by WURD Radio, DiverseForce, and P4 Hub. It addressed the specific implications and influences of artificial intelligence (AI) on Black communities.
The discussion, which drew a crowd of about 200 people, featured various experts including Sulaiman Rahman, founder and CEO of DiverseForce; Akinyemi Bajulaiye, founder of Pentridge Media; Shelton Mercer, founder and CEO of Virtuous Innovation and Audigent; and Deborah Roebuck, a doctor of nursing practice and CEO of Going Thru The Change.
Key topics included the societal impacts of AI, challenges of bias within AI algorithms, and the importance of understanding and adapting to AI technologies. Concerns were raised about AI’s capability to replace human jobs, influence elections through disinformation, and its overall rapid development towards what might become an Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), a form of AI surpassing human capabilities.
Participants also discussed the presence of cultural biases in AI outputs, reflecting underlying societal prejudices inherited from human programmers. The event highlighted the need for effective governance and ethical oversight of AI technology to prevent misuse and ensure it benefits society inclusively.
