As the host of The AI Grapple podcast, I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with the incredible Tracey Spicer AM. For those who don't know her, Tracey is a force to be reckoned with in Australian media and advocacy. She's a multi-Walkley Award winning author, journalist, and broadcaster who's been at the helm of national programmes for ABC TV and radio, Network Ten, and Sky News.
Tracey's accolades are too numerous to list in full, but they include being named NSW Premier's Woman of the Year in 2019, accepting the Sydney Peace Prize for the Me Too movement, and being recognised as one of the Australian Financial Review's 100 Women of Influence. She's also been awarded the Order of Australia for her three decades of work in media and charity.
But Tracey isn't just about awards and recognition. She's a tireless advocate for women's rights, has produced documentaries on women and girls in developing countries, and is an ambassador for various charitable organisations. Her book "The Good Girl Stripped Bare" was a bestseller, and her TEDx Talk has been viewed by millions worldwide.
What really caught my attention, though, was Tracey's latest book, "Man-Made: How the bias of the past is being built into the future". It's this work that brought her onto our show to discuss the fascinating and often troubling world of AI.
Our conversation kicked off with Tracey sharing a story that really struck a chord with me. She told me about a moment with her son, then 11 years old, who asked for a "robot slave" after watching an episode of South Park. As a parent myself, I could relate to that moment of realisation - when you suddenly see how the media and technology around us are shaping our kids' perceptions of the world.
This incident, combined with Tracey's background in feminism and journalism, led her down a rabbit hole of AI research. She discovered something that, once you hear it, seems obvious but is often overlooked: AI assistants, the ones we interact with daily, are usually given female voices. Think about it - Alexa, Siri, most GPS systems. They're all designed to be helpful, compliant... servile, even. Meanwhile, AI used in business contexts? Male voices, perceived as more authoritative.
It's a stark reminder of how deeply ingrained gender biases are in our society, to the point where we're baking them into our most cutting-edge technologies. As Tracey put it, "We're not just reflecting our biases in AI - we're amplifying them."
We dove deep into the issue of bias in AI, and Tracey broke it down in a way that really made sense. She explained that the problem starts with the data sets used to train these systems. They're often historical, reflecting past biases - like data showing mostly male doctors and female nurses. But it doesn't stop there. The algorithms themselves can carry the unconscious biases of their creators, who are predominantly young, white males in tech.
But here's where Tracey's optimism shines through. She sees this challenge as an opportunity. We discussed some innovative solutions, like using synthetic data to create more inclusive data sets from the get-go, or even intentionally embedding diversity to counteract historical biases. It's not about achieving perfect neutrality - it's about consciously shaping a more equitable future.
We also talked about the critical role of regulation in ensuring AI is used ethically. Tracey pointed to the EU's AI Act as a promising example, with its traffic light system for AI safety. But she didn't shy away from critiquing the slower pace of regulation in other regions, particularly the US.
What struck me was Tracey's practical approach to these big issues. She uses AI in her daily life, from fun applications like creating voice clones for a friend's birthday to more serious uses in her journalism work. But she always emphasises the importance of human oversight and critical thinking. As she put it, "We need to actively engage with AI, correct it when it goes wrong, and shape it to serve humanity better."
One of the most thought-provoking parts of our conversation was about AI's potential to democratise creativity. Tracey sees a future where people who might not have traditional artistic skills can create music, art, and literature with the help of AI. But she's also keenly aware of the need for fair compensation for the creators whose works are used to train these AI models.
As we wrapped up our chat, I asked Tracey for her thoughts on the future of AI. Her optimism was infectious. She's excited about the advancements in AI and the increasing focus on ethics and responsibility. But she also threw in a curveball prediction - that quantum computing will be a major game-changer in ways we can't yet fully grasp.
Talking with Tracey left me with a sense of cautious hope about our AI future. Her balanced view - acknowledging the challenges while embracing the potential - is exactly the kind of perspective we need as we navigate this rapidly evolving field.
To our listeners, I encourage you to take a page from Tracey's book. Engage with AI technologies critically and responsibly. Explore what's out there, educate yourselves about the implications, and don't be afraid to question and challenge. After all, as Tracey reminded us, we all have a role to play in shaping the future of AI.
Stay tuned for more insightful conversations on The AI Grapple as we continue to explore the fascinating and complex world of artificial intelligence.
Relevant Links Mentioned:
Connect with Tracey Spicer:
Website: https://traceyspicer.com.au/
Social Media: @traceyspicer