“It would be pretty immoral to choose a random algorithm”: Opening up algorithmic interpretability and transparency

In recent years, significant concerns have arisen regarding the increasing pervasiveness of algorithms and the impact of automated decision-making in our lives. Particularly problematic is the lack of transparency surrounding the development of these algorithmic systems and their use. It is often su...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Webb, HM, Patel, M, Rovatsos, M, Davoust, A, Ceppi, S, Koene, A, Dowthwaite, L, Portillo, V, Jirotka, M, Cano, M
Format: Conference item
Language:English
Published: 2018
_version_ 1797106293470658560
author Webb, HM
Patel, M
Rovatsos, M
Davoust, A
Ceppi, S
Koene, A
Dowthwaite, L
Portillo, V
Jirotka, M
Cano, M
author_facet Webb, HM
Patel, M
Rovatsos, M
Davoust, A
Ceppi, S
Koene, A
Dowthwaite, L
Portillo, V
Jirotka, M
Cano, M
author_sort Webb, HM
collection OXFORD
description In recent years, significant concerns have arisen regarding the increasing pervasiveness of algorithms and the impact of automated decision-making in our lives. Particularly problematic is the lack of transparency surrounding the development of these algorithmic systems and their use. It is often suggested that in order to make algorithms more fair, they should be made more transparent; but exactly how this can be achieved remains unclear. This paper reports on empirical work conducted to open up algorithmic interpretability and transparency. We conducted discussion-based experiments centred around a limited resource allocation scenario which required participants to select their most and least preferred algorithms in a particular context. Our results revealed diversity in participant preferences but consistency in the ways that participants invoked normative concerns and the importance of context when accounting for their selections. These findings demonstrate the value in pursuing algorithmic interpretability and transparency whilst also highlighting the complexities surrounding their accomplishment.
first_indexed 2024-03-07T06:59:41Z
format Conference item
id oxford-uuid:ff4b7e0d-ee46-459d-bafb-3c4c5f0bcddb
institution University of Oxford
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-07T06:59:41Z
publishDate 2018
record_format dspace
spelling oxford-uuid:ff4b7e0d-ee46-459d-bafb-3c4c5f0bcddb2022-03-27T13:43:52Z“It would be pretty immoral to choose a random algorithm”: Opening up algorithmic interpretability and transparencyConference itemhttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_5794uuid:ff4b7e0d-ee46-459d-bafb-3c4c5f0bcddbEnglishSymplectic Elements at Oxford2018Webb, HMPatel, MRovatsos, MDavoust, ACeppi, SKoene, ADowthwaite, LPortillo, VJirotka, MCano, MIn recent years, significant concerns have arisen regarding the increasing pervasiveness of algorithms and the impact of automated decision-making in our lives. Particularly problematic is the lack of transparency surrounding the development of these algorithmic systems and their use. It is often suggested that in order to make algorithms more fair, they should be made more transparent; but exactly how this can be achieved remains unclear. This paper reports on empirical work conducted to open up algorithmic interpretability and transparency. We conducted discussion-based experiments centred around a limited resource allocation scenario which required participants to select their most and least preferred algorithms in a particular context. Our results revealed diversity in participant preferences but consistency in the ways that participants invoked normative concerns and the importance of context when accounting for their selections. These findings demonstrate the value in pursuing algorithmic interpretability and transparency whilst also highlighting the complexities surrounding their accomplishment.
spellingShingle Webb, HM
Patel, M
Rovatsos, M
Davoust, A
Ceppi, S
Koene, A
Dowthwaite, L
Portillo, V
Jirotka, M
Cano, M
“It would be pretty immoral to choose a random algorithm”: Opening up algorithmic interpretability and transparency
title “It would be pretty immoral to choose a random algorithm”: Opening up algorithmic interpretability and transparency
title_full “It would be pretty immoral to choose a random algorithm”: Opening up algorithmic interpretability and transparency
title_fullStr “It would be pretty immoral to choose a random algorithm”: Opening up algorithmic interpretability and transparency
title_full_unstemmed “It would be pretty immoral to choose a random algorithm”: Opening up algorithmic interpretability and transparency
title_short “It would be pretty immoral to choose a random algorithm”: Opening up algorithmic interpretability and transparency
title_sort it would be pretty immoral to choose a random algorithm opening up algorithmic interpretability and transparency
work_keys_str_mv AT webbhm itwouldbeprettyimmoraltochoosearandomalgorithmopeningupalgorithmicinterpretabilityandtransparency
AT patelm itwouldbeprettyimmoraltochoosearandomalgorithmopeningupalgorithmicinterpretabilityandtransparency
AT rovatsosm itwouldbeprettyimmoraltochoosearandomalgorithmopeningupalgorithmicinterpretabilityandtransparency
AT davousta itwouldbeprettyimmoraltochoosearandomalgorithmopeningupalgorithmicinterpretabilityandtransparency
AT ceppis itwouldbeprettyimmoraltochoosearandomalgorithmopeningupalgorithmicinterpretabilityandtransparency
AT koenea itwouldbeprettyimmoraltochoosearandomalgorithmopeningupalgorithmicinterpretabilityandtransparency
AT dowthwaitel itwouldbeprettyimmoraltochoosearandomalgorithmopeningupalgorithmicinterpretabilityandtransparency
AT portillov itwouldbeprettyimmoraltochoosearandomalgorithmopeningupalgorithmicinterpretabilityandtransparency
AT jirotkam itwouldbeprettyimmoraltochoosearandomalgorithmopeningupalgorithmicinterpretabilityandtransparency
AT canom itwouldbeprettyimmoraltochoosearandomalgorithmopeningupalgorithmicinterpretabilityandtransparency