Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Artificial Intelligence: An Evaluation of Guidelines

Artificial intelligence (AI) is present everywhere in the lives of individuals. Unfortunately, several cases of discrimination by AI systems have already been reported. Scholars have warned on risks of AI reproducing existing inequalities or even amplifying them. To tackle these risks and promote responsible AI, many ethics guidelines for AI have emerged recently, including diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) principles and practices. However, little is known about the DEI content of these guidelines, and to what extent they meet the most relevant accumulated knowledge from DEI literature. We performed a semi-systematic literature review of the AI guidelines regarding DEI stakes and analyzed 46 guidelines published from 2015 to today. We fleshed out the 14 DEI principles and the 18 DEI practices recommended underlying these 46 guidelines. We found that the guidelines mostly encourage one of the DEI management paradigms, namely fairness, justice, and nondiscrimination, in a limited compliance approach. We found that narrow technical practices are favored over holistic ones. Finally, we conclude that recommended practices for implementing DEI principles in AI should include actions aimed at directly influencing AI actors’ behaviors and awareness of DEI risks, rather than just stating intentions and programs.