AI and the Future of Racial Justice

AI-based technologies used by cities and organizations have been shown to exhibit racial bias, and yet, they can determine who gets access to employment, care, and adequate housing. This project seeks to understand the racial disparities in AI-based systems and design and implement solutions in the areas of public safety, transportation, and health. Engagement with local government offices, public agencies, industry, and communities is at the center of its effort to tackle the challenge of achieving racially equitable AI.

Team Members

S. Craig Watkins

School of Journalism and Media

Project Lead

Chandra Bhat

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering

Project Co-Lead

Min Kyung Lee

School of Information

Project Co-Lead

Sherri Greenberg

LBJ School of Public Affairs

Natalia Ruiz-Juri

Center for Transportation Research

News

Sept. 20, 2023

Good Systems Awards Funding to Advance Ethical AI Research in Core Project Areas

Good Systems has awarded funding to five projects that investigate the ethical implications of AI technologies in society in the areas of racial justice, surveillance and privacy, smart cities, and community-robot interaction.

July 25, 2023

Poor Infrastructure in Houston’s Black Neighborhoods has Caused a Disproportionate Number of Pedestrian Crashes, New Study Says

Researchers at the University of Texas in Austin found that while majority-Black neighborhoods in Houston made up 14% of the area surveyed, those communities experienced 35% more pedestrian crashes than non-Black neighborhoods.

July 24, 2023

Houston's Black Neighborhoods Have a Disproportionate Number of Pedestrian Crashes, UT Study Finds

There is a direct line between under-investment in Black neighborhoods and the rising number of pedestrian crashes in those communities, Texas researchers found using Houston stats.

Videos

Documents

Select Publications

Angela J. Haddad, Aupal Mondal, Chandra R. Bhat, Angie Zhang, Madison C. Liao, Lisa J. Macias, Min Kyung Lee, and S. Craig Watkins. “Pedestrian Crash Frequency: Unpacking the Effects of Contributing Factors and Racial Disparities.” Accident Analysis & Prevention 182 (March 1, 2023).