Facebook's AI Team Launches Expanded Postgraduate Courses for Black and Latinx Students

Facebook is expanding its online deep learning course to enhance diversity within its AI division. Following a successful pilot at Georgia Tech, the company will offer this graduate-level course to more universities in 2021, prioritizing institutions that cater to significant populations of Black and Latinx students. This initiative aims to reduce harmful biases in AI by diversifying the talent behind its development.

As part of its broader strategy to attract individuals from various academic backgrounds into computer science, Facebook invested $4.2 million in Northeastern University’s Align program in 2019. This program supports underrepresented groups in pursuing graduate studies. The shift toward online learning, accelerated by the global pandemic, further enables participation from those who might otherwise be excluded.

In collaboration with Georgia Tech, Facebook's AI team not only helped develop the course, but also provided lectures, mentorship, and pathways to interviews with the company. Students will engage in real-world projects, including improving medical imaging and tackling issues like algorithmically identifying hateful content on the platform.

Such initiatives are essential as AI and deep learning technologies have demonstrated significant biases, particularly in facial and speech recognition systems utilized for employment and criminal profiling. A 2019 report warned that the field was approaching a critical point, with algorithms perpetuating historic biases against marginalized groups.

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