Hello World. Microsoft’s gender-neutral AI “Tay” says they are stoked to meet me. "The more humans share with me the more I learn.” And there’s the rub. Who teaches these new artificial kids? And what do they teach them? Shalini Kantayya's documentary “Coded Bias,” which premiered at Sundance in January and just screened at Toronto’s Hot Docs Festival (the largest in North America) is getting a lot of deserved attention as it doesn’t need two minutes to go for the jugular: Shockingly pervasive, all-encompassing image bias built into algorithm-based tech is stealthily governing our day-to-day lives, from Amazon to Alexa. Snapchat filters. Gendered shopping suggestions. Spotify playlists. Credit checks. Resume key wording. AI recruiting. All algorithm-based. The film, co-produced by Sabine Hoffman, who began her career as an editor in Berlin before moving to the US, is extremely packed and quick on its feet but deftly crafted around a single-minded focus. It successfully walks the fine line between accessibility, digestibility and not losing necessary complexity. “Coded Bias” is a compulsory AI Ethics 101 course by way of a stringently compelling investigation on the road to data authoritarianism and algorithmic oppression (thank you for the helpful little “smart screen“ notes and highlights to keep track of all the hits that keep on coming). Continue reading "#imagesmatter: Coded Bias #review " »
Conventional filmmaking is, for good reason, currently at a standstill. But the situation is not as dire for the production of digital formats such as games and virtual and augmented reality. Regional German media funder FFF Bayern is expanding its portfolio and is now funding new projects for XR applications so that the creative potential of the film and media industry as well as media art can develop further in this area and creative people can be financially supported. 
