Computer scientist at the University of Kaiserslautern in the Enquete Commission "Artificial Intelligence"

Professor Dr. Katharina Anna Zweig has been appointed to the Enquete Commission "Artificial Intelligence - Social Responsibility and Economic, Social and Ecological Potential". The computer scientist at the Technical University of Kaiserslautern and her team in the Algorithm Accountability Lab critically examine the handling of algorithms. The Commission will meet on 27 September for its inaugural meeting. It has the task of developing recommendations for action in order to harness the opportunities of artificial intelligence (AI) for society and to limit risks.

The Kaiserslautern computer science professor investigates algorithmic decision-making systems that assess important life situations of people. In doing so, she also researches methods that will help her to control herself better in the future. The researcher is pleased about the appointment: "The experts cover a wide range of expertise, and many of the members of parliament also have experience in IT; that's a good basis. It's important that we set aside the design freedom for AI today, in order to remain economically innovative and create attractive jobs on the one hand, and social and human choices on the other. "

Last year, for example, Zweig examined the initiative AlgorithmWatch and a consortium of state media authorities prior to the general election, to which the search engine Google displays which news or results. Their investigation has shown that Google is much less personalized than expected: in the search for politicians, there were on average only one or two different links, also agreed among the parties, the majority.

The commission has 19 members of the Bundestag and 19 experts.