Issues and Spaces

Self-driving cars, deepfakes, TikTok recommendations — why are they black boxes? Is it just algorithms that are opaque, or is it made opaque so it appears to be autonomous ‘magic’? Who are the humans behind the machines and below the algorithms, and what are their labor conditions? As AI permeates our everyday lives, it’s important to consider the people behind it. Just as we want to know where our food comes from, farm-to-fork, it’s important to understand the origins of the AI that impacts our lives. At MozFest 2023, we will uncover the many roles people play in the AI machine and discover just how automated AI really is.

Join us at MozFest 2023 to learn how to power mine, a way of combining your power with that of others across the AI supply chain, and identify opportunities to negotiate value and ultimately shift AI power dynamics.

As AI systems grow in complexity and use in society, we know less and less about how they actually work. AI systems that drive everyday interactions and decisions are not always auditable and understandable — even by those who develop the technology. The result: systems that often commit and perpetuate harms, with little insight into how it technically happens. We want that to change. Join forces with us at MozFest to build tech and systems that promote responsible and informative transparency, and tackle questions such as: How can transparency lead to accountability? What do users, researchers, regulators, and platforms need to effectively interrogate AI systems? And what can we learn from existing cultures of transparency, like open source?

At MozFest 2023, you’ll leave feeling connected, inspired, and equipped to tackle questions of transparency — and its utility in holding platforms accountable for harms — all while promoting a free and open internet. Together, we can reimagine tech futures that center your voice and amplify your power.