Can AI Reduce Inequality?
There’s a lot of talk about how AI perpetuates inequality. But have you considered how it could improve it?
In The Equality Machine, rather than dwelling on how AI can perpetuate inequality and harm marginalised groups, Orly Lobel sets out a compelling vision for how it could be used to enhance equality.
It’s a fascinating read, which stands in stark contrast to most other books on the topic, which often focus on AI’s ethical failures and deep inequalities. Instead of seeing AI as an inevitable tool of oppression, Lobel argues that if designed and implemented correctly, it can be a force for justice, and she lays out how this can happen.
And that is important. AI is going to change the world; probably not in the way that most envision, but change it, it will. Other books on the topic seem to hint at scrapping AI entirely, which is unrealistic; it’s a runaway train. The real question is; can we shift its trajectory to benefit many instead of a few?
Can AI's trajectory be shifted, given who controls it?
While I am all in on Lobel’s vision. I can't help but question its likelihood.
The greatest challenge isn’t just the technology itself. It’s who controls it. Currently, AI is dominated by tech giants whose priorities tend not to be equality. Without strong policies or incentives, will companies commit to building AI for social good? History suggests this won’t happen without immense pressure from policymakers, activists and every day users. If AI is to become the force for justice that Lobel envisions, it will take more than just industry good will, it will take a collective action.
With billionaires increasingly influencing the direction of AI, there’s a real concern AI will prioritise the bias of their wealthiest backers. Lobel’s argument becomes even more urgent in this context.
Final Thoughts
This book should be mandatory reading for policymakers, politicians and data engineers. But it’s an interesting and accessible read for anyone interested in AI’s impact on society.
Even if you are sceptical is Lobel's vision can become reality, her voice is one of the most important in the debate about AI’s future. Lobel's work is a crucial reminder that women’s voices must be central in shaping the future of AI—not just critiquing it, but actively designing a better one.
Whether AI becomes a tool for equality, or deepens existing divides, this is a conversation that cannot be ignored. If AI is going to serve everyone fairly, we need more voices like Lobel’s leading the conversation.
