TBN #10
My avatar is better than yours 🤳
I hope this email finds you well. Do people still say that? If not, that’s too bad. I genuinely hope this email finds you well. Since you are reading it, that means you stopped scrolling through your social feeds and for that, I am grateful.
While you were scrolling through your socials, did you notice some different images? I know I did. You’re likely seeing AI (artificial intelligence) selfies taking over your feed. Chances are they are Magic Avatars your friends (and people you follow) created in the Lensa app. Not sure what Lensa is? Here is a quick summary to catch you up on the 4-year old app.
While my selfies are not Lensafied, I am fascinated by the conversations this app is stirring up. However, much of the dialogue is based on issues with the app. To name a few, there are privacy concerns, stealing artists’ work(spoiler: no, the app is not stealing artists’ work), and tricking the app into creating non-consensual nudes.
What strikes me the most is the biases that are built into the app. If you’re thinking: biases? Yes, apps can be biased. As someone who works in the diversity/equity/inclusion field, Lensa’s (current) impact is a classic case study in unconscious bias. In addition to the issues above, here are a few biases (allegedly) built into the app:
Skin color and ethnic features. According to BIPOC users, the app creates Magic Avatars with Eurocentricfeatures.
Sexualization of women. According to women users, the app increases their chest size.
Body size. Users claim the app makes some bodies smaller. According to a psychologist, this can trigger low(er) self-esteem and body dysmorphia.
But why is it doing this?
According to Prisma Labs, owner of Lensa, the app uses a neural network which is a series of algorithms that mimic the human brain. This network “was trained on a sizable set of Internet data to generate images from the text prompts – small pieces of text describing the desired scene in the output image.” That’s tech speak for the app learned how to generate images from biases in already existing images. In other words, the app learned its biases from us.
Moral of the story: If tech is learning from us, we have to do better. Now more than ever, we must confront our biases. If we do not, virtual universes are going to be equally, if not more, biased than the physical one we inhabit. That means we will create more harm than necessary.
If you used the app, because you wanted to have a little fun and take a break from the daily grind, that’s okay. Your secret is safe with me. But now that you know better, you must do better.
Whew chile! I know that was a lot to process but you did it. Take a deep breath and let’s get into it…
Sincerely,
Your favorite CDO
Amber Benton
WEEKLY UPDATE
CLIFF NOTES: IN CASE YOU MISSED IT…
You did good, Joe
Increasing the prices, increasing the side hustles
Brittany Griner comes home
Twitter employees have spoken
Less cops in schools and more restorative practices
Morgan State University makes history
BLM sets up student debt relief fund
Hanukkah (December 18-December 26)
Christmas (December 25)
Kwanzaa (December 26-January 1)
STUDY HALL: ARE YOU A SPLITTER OR BLENDER?
According to a Gallup report, employees have 1 of 2 types of relationships with work. You are either a splitter or a blender.
HOMEWORK: HOW TO BE FEARLESS
What I’m Reading 📖: My new book is How To Be Perfect by Michael Schur. It is more so about morals than perfection.
What I’m Watching 📺: Something From Tiffany’s on Prime Video. The characters are messy but it’s still a charming, rom-com.
What I’m Listening To 🎙️: This 52-second video, “Fear has no place in your success equation” by the GOAT, Carla Ann Harris. Her entire channel is full of motivational videos.
DANCE BREAK: YO NO SOY CELOSO
Bad Bunny is Spotify’s top artist for a reason. “Yo No Soy Celoso” (English translation: I’m Not Jealous) is a nice groove for a 2-or 3-step.
DOUBLE TAP: WHO I’M FOLLOWING
Sketch Plantations is “explaining the world one sketch at a time.” You can also visit their website.
I’d love to hear from you!
What do you need to be better in work and in life? Send me a message or connect with me on social.
