Why AI alone cannot fix social problems
The article discusses the limitations of using AI to solve social problems, highlighting that AI systems are often rooted in structural inequities and may not be effective without strong human infrastructure. The success of AI systems in addressing social issues depends more on the people working around them than the technology itself.
The pursuit of solving social problems using technology has led to AI being presented as a solution to various challenges. However, AI's potential is often overstated, and its capabilities are rooted in structural inequities, reproducing historical inequalities. Recent studies have examined AI systems deployed to address social problems in the developing world. The success of these systems depends not on the sophistication of the AI models, but on the strength and resilience of the human infrastructure surrounding them. For instance, Microsoft Research India's Shiksha Copilot, an AI-based lesson planning tool, was more effective in schools with adequate infrastructure and dedicated administrative support. The tool was used to enhance lesson planning in some schools, while in others it was used to quickly generate lesson plans to complete administrative tasks.
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