The Hidden Biases Built Into Every AI System | Dr. Joy Buolamwini

Dr. Joy Buolamwini is a computer scientist, AI researcher, and founder of the Algorithmic Justice League. Her work has exposed how bias in artificial intelligence systems can reinforce inequality at scale and why the risks of AI go far beyond the headlines.

In this conversation, Dr. Buolamwini and I explore how AI systems inherit human bias and why these biases are not just technical flaws, but deeper issues rooted in the data used to train AI.

We also talk about the invisible ways AI is already shaping our lives, from algorithmic scoring and data brokers to biometric surveillance systems that most people don’t even realize they are part of.

Finally, we explore what she means when she says AI could “kill us slowly.” Not through one dramatic event, but through long-term, systemic harm that limits opportunities, reinforces inequality, and quietly reshapes society over time.

Grab a copy of Dr. Joy Buolamwini's book here.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Can AI “Kill Us Slowly”?

02:03 – The Origin of the “Coded Gaze”

06:56 – How Bias Gets Embedded in AI Systems

09:25 – The AI Systems Quietly Shaping Your Life

13:30 – Why Biometrics and Surveillance Matter

16:09 – The Risks of Facial Recognition at Airports