‘Are You Blacker Than ChatGPT?’ Puts AI to the test

According to a recent TechCrunch article, a provocative new online game is sparking discussion around the cultural biases inherent in artificial intelligence systems like ChatGPT. Developed by advertising agency McKinney, “Are You Blacker Than ChatGPT?” quizzes players on nuanced aspects of Black culture and challenges them to demonstrate greater knowledge than the popular AI chatbot.

As Meghan Woods, a copywriter at McKinney and one of the game’s creators, explained, the idea emerged from observing ChatGPT’s limitations in accurately representing the complexity of Black culture. While everybody agrees this AI is intelligent, does it know Black culture – from meanings behind certain lingo to the significance of dates like December 21, 2020?

The game poses questions deeply rooted in Black oral traditions and social contexts that AI systems often struggle to comprehend fully. These range from identifying the typical response when invited to an event to grasping implied meanings in conversational phrases. Players are then scored on how many questions they answer correctly compared to ChatGPT.

This creative approach highlights a serious issue – the lack of cultural diversity and perspectives embedded in many AI tools. TechCrunch points out that AI innovations such as ChatGPT often lack development input from minority communities and a grasp of the subtleties inherent in diverse cultures And that blindness can propagate real-world harms, from facial recognition that fails on dark skin to hiring algorithms that discount “ethnic” names.

Fortunately, concerted efforts are underway to build more inclusive artificial intelligence systems. Ventures like ChatBlackGPT and Spark Plug aim to inject greater cultural awareness and diversity into mainstream AI tools. By focusing extensively on Black history and perspectives, ChatBlackGPT enriches the knowledge base of AI with deeper insights into minority experiences and contributions. Meanwhile, Spark Plug is translating literary classics into African American Vernacular English (AAVE) dialects to enhance access and representation.

ChatBlackGPT: A New Perspective on Black History and Culture

ChatBlackGPT is an innovative platform that provides a specialized perspective on Black, African American, and African history, culture, and current affairs. It is tailored to meet the needs of diverse users, including students, educators, activists, policymakers, and more, by offering information and insights from a Black perspective.

It delves deep into the cultural fabric of Black communities, shedding light on literature, art, music, and traditions and providing cultural insights that celebrate the global impact of Black individuals. In social justice and advocacy, ChatBlackGPT provides historical context, strategies, and insights to address issues like systemic racism and promote inclusivity and equity. It also addresses health disparities by promoting culturally competent care and providing relevant information on public health and wellness for Black individuals.

For business leaders and entrepreneurs, ChatBlackGPT offers critical insights into Black consumers’ preferences and cultural considerations, which are essential for success in diverse markets. This innovative tool is not just a repository of information but a beacon for empowerment, engagement, and the development of inclusive policies and communication, ensuring that every interaction is respectful and culturally sensitive.

Spark Plug: Interpreting Literature Across Cultures

Founded in Toronto eight years ago by Tamar Huggins, Tech Spark AI has evolved from developing curricula for Black and brown students across North America to creating Spark Plug, a Black-owned alternative to AI search platforms like ChatGPT. This innovation, co-created with Huggins’ 13-year-old daughter, Talia Grant, aims to personalize the educational experience, particularly focusing on underserved Black and brown communities in partnership with educational institutions in the U.S. and Canada.

Spark Plug’s initial feature allows the translation of classic literature into modern language, specifically targeting Gen Z by translating standard text to African American Vernacular English (AAVE). Huggins emphasizes the importance of designing technology through a lens of Blackness to create meaningful, safe solutions that address community-specific issues. Spark Plug, available as a web application for a broad audience, was trained using contributions from Gen Z members, authors of the Harlem Renaissance, and Civil Rights activists, aiming to become a leader in inclusive generative AI.

Conclusion

While the “Are You Blacker Than ChatGPT?” game offers lighthearted entertainment, it underscores a serious reality – that artificial intelligence has substantial room for growth in representing the rich diversity of human identity and culture. As AI technologies increasingly integrate into countless aspects of society, prioritizing cultural awareness ceases to be just a preference but becomes an ethical imperative.

For innovations like ChatGPT, the path forward lies not in competition against the complexity of human cultures but in meaningful collaboration. Platforms emphasizing minority perspectives, like ChatBlackGPT and Spark Plug, are paving the way by showcasing possibilities for infusing AI with more nuanced worldviews. This diversity strengthens universality, empowering AI to serve people of all backgrounds better.

Inclusivity in AI development and training data leads to more equitable, useful digital tools. When systems fail to understand key cultural contexts, they inevitably propagate biases. Lack of representation compromises technological potential. However our human tapestry consists of an infinitude of cultural threads, impossible for any system to replicate fully.