New You Can Use: Access to Justice Through Fair and Accurate Algorithms

December 11, 2020 @ 3:00 pm

Artificial Intelligence algorithms are increasingly influencing every facet of human life from loan approval, hiring, medicine, investments, to even driving. In the legal system, algorithms are being used to predict crime rates and parole sentencings, help people fill out legal documents, dispute a fine, or review contracts among many other uses. Given the omni-presence of algorithms, people need to feel confident that algorithms have been deployed with proper quality control checks, and they produce accurate as well as fair and non-discriminatory recommendations. Increasing the accuracy and fairness of algorithmic decisions in legal decision making would help the cause of improving access to justice.

Join us for a conversation on how to deploy algorithms efficiently and equitably. What metrics can be used to evaluate whether an algorithm is accurate and fair (or not). How can algorithms help, not harm, protected groups? What technical and cultural steps can be adopted by organizations to develop and deploy accurate and fair algorithms?

This talk will was delivered by Dr. Arul Mishra on December 11, 2020.

Dr. Mishra is the David Eccles Professor of Marketing at the University of Utah. She received a PhD in Marketing from the University of Iowa. Her research, on a broader level, focuses on understanding different aspects of human decision-making process. Specifically, she is interested in utilizing computational algorithms to understand decision outcomes in the area of computational social science. Currently, Dr. Mishra is examining the ethical consequences of algorithmic decisions. For instance, how can efficient and fair algorithms reduce the impact of social biases and inequities? Can algorithms help society discriminate less? Can algorithms be used to increase access-to-justice for under-represented individuals? Methodologically she uses Machine learning, Natural Language Processing, and field studies to test social phenomenon and theories.

Dr. Mishra’s research has been published in the American Psychologist, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Journal of Marketing Research, Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Marketing, Marketing Science, Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, and Psychological Science. Popular accounts of her work have appeared in the Scientific American, Los Angeles Times, Wall Street Journal, Chicago Tribune, MSN Money, The Financial Express, and Shape.

This event is part of the News You Can Use series from the Utah Office of Legal Services Innovation and is co-sponsored by the Justice Lab of the College of Law at the University of Utah.

This event is intended to be educational and for the benefit of the public. Participation in this event does not supplant application to the Utah Legal Sandbox nor does it confer any advantage to applicants to the Utah Legal Sandbox. The statements of fact and opinions are those of the presenters personally and do not represent the opinion or position of the Utah Office of Legal Services Innovation or the Utah Supreme Court. The Utah Office of Legal Services and the Utah Supreme Court do not endorse, approve, or assume responsibility for the content, accuracy, or completeness of the information presented.