02/27/2026
As Black History Month comes to a close, we need to talk about the future of AI – and for who it’s actually being built.
Technology is often treated as objective, but the data it learns from isn’t. When we look at facial recognition and AI, the gaps are alarming.
Groundbreaking research by computer scientist and researcher Dr. Joy Buolamwini ( ) reveals that commercial facial analysis systems can have error rates of over 30% for darker-skinned women, compared to less than 1% for lighter-skinned men.
Why does this matter? Because AI is actively being used in hiring, housing, policing, and lending. When biased data informs these systems, it doesn’t just make a mistake – it scales discrimination.
Technology must be a tool for liberation, not complication, and certainly not oppression. Ethical AI and data sovereignty aren’t just industry buzzwords to us; they are non-negotiable standards for how we build and implement solutions for our communities, small businesses, and non-profits.
Let’s keep doing the work to ensure the digital spaces we build are equitable for everyone, long after February ends.
👇 Have you noticed coded bias in the tech or apps you use every day? Let’s talk about it in the comments.
