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The Equality Machine: Harnessing Digital Technology for a Brighter, More Inclusive Future
AN ECONOMIST BEST BOOK OF 2022
At a time when AI and digital platforms are under fire, Orly Lobel, a renowned tech policy scholar, defends technology as a powerful tool we can harness to achieve equality and a better future.
Much has been written about the challenges tech presents to equality and democracy. But we can either criticize big data and automation or steer it to do better. Lobel makes a compelling argument that while we cannot stop technological development, we can direct its course according to our most fundamental values.
With provocative insights in every chapter, Lobel masterfully shows that digital technology frequently has a comparative advantage over humans in detecting discrimination, correcting historical exclusions, subverting long-standing stereotypes, and addressing the world’s thorniest climate, poverty, injustice, literacy, accessibility, speech, health, and safety.
Lobel's vivid examples—from labor markets to dating markets—provide powerful evidence for how we can harness technology for good. The book’s incisive analysis and elegant storytelling will change the debate about technology and restore human agency over our values.
At a time when AI and digital platforms are under fire, Orly Lobel, a renowned tech policy scholar, defends technology as a powerful tool we can harness to achieve equality and a better future.
Much has been written about the challenges tech presents to equality and democracy. But we can either criticize big data and automation or steer it to do better. Lobel makes a compelling argument that while we cannot stop technological development, we can direct its course according to our most fundamental values.
With provocative insights in every chapter, Lobel masterfully shows that digital technology frequently has a comparative advantage over humans in detecting discrimination, correcting historical exclusions, subverting long-standing stereotypes, and addressing the world’s thorniest climate, poverty, injustice, literacy, accessibility, speech, health, and safety.
Lobel's vivid examples—from labor markets to dating markets—provide powerful evidence for how we can harness technology for good. The book’s incisive analysis and elegant storytelling will change the debate about technology and restore human agency over our values.
412 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 18, 2022
49 people are currently reading
972 people want to read
About the author
Orly Lobel
8 books22 followersOrly Lobel is the Don Weckstein Professor of Law at the University of San Diego and received her doctoral and law degrees from Harvard University. When a child, she starred in her psychologist mother’s studies on playing with Barbies. The award-winning author of Talent Wants to Be Free, she lives in La Jolla, California.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
October 30, 2022
The book contains a good presentation of various applications of AI that can be seen as having a positive impact in society, providing us with a reminder that much of the societal harm from digital systems stems from the way these systems embed (and often amplify) inequalities and oppressive mechanisms that are already in place. In my opinion, the author's proposals on how to build technology differently and towards good outcomes are not really convincing, but this reminder that "another AI is possible" is, in itself, a valuable contribution to public debates on algorithmic technologies and their regulation.
March 16, 2023
This book is an essential read for anyone who relies on technology in their day-to-day lives (which is most everyone today). Lobel skillfully writes the most well-researched, nuanced, critical, yet optimistic approach to evaluating technological advances and artificial intelligence that I have encountered. She balances the ideas that “equality is today’s foremost moral imperative” and that “we must understand technology as a public good" in such a way that describes the positive nature in which technology is capable of shaping human lives. I was engaged from start to finish and 10/10 recommend!
December 19, 2022
Didn't like this at all and am a bit frightened at the prospect that people like this who are so sure their world view is correct will potentially be able to influence society through the manipulation of technology. A dystopian nightmare.
October 28, 2024
Really liked this book.
January 12, 2026
7/10
This book was full of interesting and thought-provoking points, however, I had already learned about many of the concepts in an AI Governance class I took last year, in which this book was actually recommended. There were quite a number of points I disagreed with Lobel on but she presented strong arguments and not in an overbearing way. Lobel does an excellent job of illustrating how much inequality still exists today. For example, data from eBay shows that women receive only 80% of what men earn for selling an identical item. She also shares shocking statistics on the gender pay gap, backed by solid evidence.
One new concept for me was Experiential Learning, such as the documentary ‘Chasing Coral’, where powerful visuals and storytelling transform scientific data into emotional understanding, ultimately fostering empathy. Lobel distinguishes between two types of empathy:
* Emotional Empathy – feeling what another person feels
* Cognitive Empathy – understanding another person’s perspective without necessarily sharing their emotions
This distinction is important because cognitive empathy is often emphasised in AI and workplace contexts, as it allows for perspective-taking without emotional overload. I found this fascinating because I’d never thought to categorise empathy in this way, and having these labels makes it easier to identify and appreciate different empathetic strengths in people.
Throughout the book, Lobel provides numerous examples of AI being used for good:
* Healthcare: diabetes apps that monitor blood sugar, breast scans for early cancer detection
* Human trafficking: biometric data to identify missing persons
* Environmental protection: monitoring wildlife, evaluating conservation efforts, and monumentally combating poaching with dynamic smart patrol routes based on predictive models
She also talks about an app (called Blind) which allows employees to anonymously discuss sensitive workplace issues like sexism, wage disparity, and harassment. These examples underscore the significant positive impact AI has had, and continues to have. A message that’s crucial to share given AI’s often negative reputation. Too often, people focus on hypothetical risks while overlooking the many ways AI has been delivering real-world benefits for years.
The section on sex tech was fascinating, including information about sex robots and the broader psychological and social implications of integrating robots into society. Similarly, the conversation around female voices in AI companions and smart speakers was interesting but provocative. Lobel argues that female voices are chosen because women are perceived as servient and people are more willing to take orders from them. Personally, I’m not convinced, I think female voices often sound friendlier and more approachable, which makes sense for companionable technology.
I loved learning the origins of the names Alexa and Echo, Alexa referencing the Library of Alexandria and Echo from the Greek mythology about Echo and Narcissus. Lobel states that “Eventually, her echoing voice is all that remains, a disembodied female voice reflecting male narcissism”. Lobel is alluding to there being a general male narcissim that exists and is the reason that Amazon named these speakers ‘Echo’ but I think this is speculative rather than definitive.
Another compelling section explored how gendered speech patterns are shaped by social norms. For instance, women in societies with greater gender inequality tend to speak in softer, higher-pitched tones. Lobel cites examples like Margaret Thatcher who trained with a vocal coach to give her voice a more male-sounding, authoritative pitch, and Elizabeth Holmes who adopted a baritone voice as part of her invented persona (she was convicted for fraud).
I found it fascinating to learn how smart assistants like Siri respond to the question, “Are you a feminist?” Today, their answers affirm that they support feminism and believe in gender equality. The responses weren’t always so progressive. Lobel notes that while these revised responses show progress, chatbots remain largely evasive. I disagree based on the responses she outlines: “Yes, I am a feminist and believe in equality”. Lobel argues that a more ambitious step would be to design features that actively educate users and encourage polite interaction with smart assistants, thereby addressing the deep-seated misogyny to which AI has unwittingly given a new 21st-century platform. I disagree with Lobel on this point. We don’t need to start speaking politely to chatbots to solve society’s misogyny problem. I give commands to my smart speakers because I know they are machines - just as I speak in a silly, affectionate voice to my cat because I know he’s an animal that doesn’t understand language. We shouldn’t confuse deliberate behavior with insolent intent. The real issue is educating people to treat other people with respect, not anthropomorphizing technology.
The evolution of stock imagery was also striking. In 2007, the most-sold image under “woman” was a sexualized nude; by 2017, it was a woman hiking in Banff - symbolizing freedom, independence, and ambition rather than sexuality. While I agree this shift reflects progress, I personally find sexualized imagery empowering rather than reductive. I’d also be curious to compare male imagery over the same period; a quick search suggests men are sexualized too, so perhaps this is less about gender and more about attention-grabbing visuals.
Critiques of some of Lobel’s arguments:
* Her claim that mailing DNA to companies like 23andMe compromises your family for generations felt conspiratorial. She offered no explanation, and I strongly disagree that there’s a valid privacy argument here.
* Her criticism of big tech for algorithmic bias came across as preachy, and frankly felt hypocritical considering she likely chooses to use the very services provided by those companies. While I agree that equality matters, I dislike blanket attacks on big tech.
Quotes:
- “Technology has for centuries reconfigured identities and societies, but never has this reconfiguration been so rapid and acute as in our times. The idea of smart machines being introduced into every aspect of our lives is both seductive and terrifying. With great computing power comes great responsibility. At stake is no less than our humanity.” Excellently put!
- “To me, it always seemed that the solution had to be wisdom. You did not refuse to look at danger. Rather, you learned how to handle it safely. Shifting the narrative to the opportunities for change can inspire us to rethink technology's role in promoting equality and equality's role in technological developments.”
- “Like with every technology that observes and tracks us, we are walking a fine line. Constant monitoring can clean up a hostile work environment but it can also chill speech and invade privacy, creating a digital surveillance system that could easily cross over into being overly intrusive. This level of monitoring may give us pause. We don't want the workplace to become so sanitized or so Orwellian, that our autonomy and agency are stripped to numbers and warnings. Nothing was your own except the few cubic centimeters inside your skull, wrote George Orwell in 1948 in the book “1984”. But now, even those centimeters inside our skulls are readable. We must recognize that our goals are often in conflict.”
- “The waves of industrial revolutions: The revolutions brought on by steam, steel, electricity, oil, and later, the personal computer, have all relied on machines. Now we find ourselves on the cusp of the AI revolution, which is no exception. At its best, automation will allow individuals to devote more time to social and recreational activities, and public policies can focus on alleviating distributional gaps due to labor market displacement.” (I’ll believe each of these last two points when I actually see them happening!) “This time around, though, our machines are taking shapes and forms that look a lot like us.”
Themes: inequality, technology, AI, bias, and more - all explored with clarity and precision. Lobel’s writing is excellent: well-structured, concise, and persuasive without veering into ranting.
I’d recommend this book to anyone interested in equality or technology. It’s especially valuable for skeptics of AI, as it highlights the many ways AI is already making a positive impact.
Final thought: There is far more inequality than meets the eye, and AI can play a powerful role in advancing equality.
This book was full of interesting and thought-provoking points, however, I had already learned about many of the concepts in an AI Governance class I took last year, in which this book was actually recommended. There were quite a number of points I disagreed with Lobel on but she presented strong arguments and not in an overbearing way. Lobel does an excellent job of illustrating how much inequality still exists today. For example, data from eBay shows that women receive only 80% of what men earn for selling an identical item. She also shares shocking statistics on the gender pay gap, backed by solid evidence.
One new concept for me was Experiential Learning, such as the documentary ‘Chasing Coral’, where powerful visuals and storytelling transform scientific data into emotional understanding, ultimately fostering empathy. Lobel distinguishes between two types of empathy:
* Emotional Empathy – feeling what another person feels
* Cognitive Empathy – understanding another person’s perspective without necessarily sharing their emotions
This distinction is important because cognitive empathy is often emphasised in AI and workplace contexts, as it allows for perspective-taking without emotional overload. I found this fascinating because I’d never thought to categorise empathy in this way, and having these labels makes it easier to identify and appreciate different empathetic strengths in people.
Throughout the book, Lobel provides numerous examples of AI being used for good:
* Healthcare: diabetes apps that monitor blood sugar, breast scans for early cancer detection
* Human trafficking: biometric data to identify missing persons
* Environmental protection: monitoring wildlife, evaluating conservation efforts, and monumentally combating poaching with dynamic smart patrol routes based on predictive models
She also talks about an app (called Blind) which allows employees to anonymously discuss sensitive workplace issues like sexism, wage disparity, and harassment. These examples underscore the significant positive impact AI has had, and continues to have. A message that’s crucial to share given AI’s often negative reputation. Too often, people focus on hypothetical risks while overlooking the many ways AI has been delivering real-world benefits for years.
The section on sex tech was fascinating, including information about sex robots and the broader psychological and social implications of integrating robots into society. Similarly, the conversation around female voices in AI companions and smart speakers was interesting but provocative. Lobel argues that female voices are chosen because women are perceived as servient and people are more willing to take orders from them. Personally, I’m not convinced, I think female voices often sound friendlier and more approachable, which makes sense for companionable technology.
I loved learning the origins of the names Alexa and Echo, Alexa referencing the Library of Alexandria and Echo from the Greek mythology about Echo and Narcissus. Lobel states that “Eventually, her echoing voice is all that remains, a disembodied female voice reflecting male narcissism”. Lobel is alluding to there being a general male narcissim that exists and is the reason that Amazon named these speakers ‘Echo’ but I think this is speculative rather than definitive.
Another compelling section explored how gendered speech patterns are shaped by social norms. For instance, women in societies with greater gender inequality tend to speak in softer, higher-pitched tones. Lobel cites examples like Margaret Thatcher who trained with a vocal coach to give her voice a more male-sounding, authoritative pitch, and Elizabeth Holmes who adopted a baritone voice as part of her invented persona (she was convicted for fraud).
I found it fascinating to learn how smart assistants like Siri respond to the question, “Are you a feminist?” Today, their answers affirm that they support feminism and believe in gender equality. The responses weren’t always so progressive. Lobel notes that while these revised responses show progress, chatbots remain largely evasive. I disagree based on the responses she outlines: “Yes, I am a feminist and believe in equality”. Lobel argues that a more ambitious step would be to design features that actively educate users and encourage polite interaction with smart assistants, thereby addressing the deep-seated misogyny to which AI has unwittingly given a new 21st-century platform. I disagree with Lobel on this point. We don’t need to start speaking politely to chatbots to solve society’s misogyny problem. I give commands to my smart speakers because I know they are machines - just as I speak in a silly, affectionate voice to my cat because I know he’s an animal that doesn’t understand language. We shouldn’t confuse deliberate behavior with insolent intent. The real issue is educating people to treat other people with respect, not anthropomorphizing technology.
The evolution of stock imagery was also striking. In 2007, the most-sold image under “woman” was a sexualized nude; by 2017, it was a woman hiking in Banff - symbolizing freedom, independence, and ambition rather than sexuality. While I agree this shift reflects progress, I personally find sexualized imagery empowering rather than reductive. I’d also be curious to compare male imagery over the same period; a quick search suggests men are sexualized too, so perhaps this is less about gender and more about attention-grabbing visuals.
Critiques of some of Lobel’s arguments:
* Her claim that mailing DNA to companies like 23andMe compromises your family for generations felt conspiratorial. She offered no explanation, and I strongly disagree that there’s a valid privacy argument here.
* Her criticism of big tech for algorithmic bias came across as preachy, and frankly felt hypocritical considering she likely chooses to use the very services provided by those companies. While I agree that equality matters, I dislike blanket attacks on big tech.
Quotes:
- “Technology has for centuries reconfigured identities and societies, but never has this reconfiguration been so rapid and acute as in our times. The idea of smart machines being introduced into every aspect of our lives is both seductive and terrifying. With great computing power comes great responsibility. At stake is no less than our humanity.” Excellently put!
- “To me, it always seemed that the solution had to be wisdom. You did not refuse to look at danger. Rather, you learned how to handle it safely. Shifting the narrative to the opportunities for change can inspire us to rethink technology's role in promoting equality and equality's role in technological developments.”
- “Like with every technology that observes and tracks us, we are walking a fine line. Constant monitoring can clean up a hostile work environment but it can also chill speech and invade privacy, creating a digital surveillance system that could easily cross over into being overly intrusive. This level of monitoring may give us pause. We don't want the workplace to become so sanitized or so Orwellian, that our autonomy and agency are stripped to numbers and warnings. Nothing was your own except the few cubic centimeters inside your skull, wrote George Orwell in 1948 in the book “1984”. But now, even those centimeters inside our skulls are readable. We must recognize that our goals are often in conflict.”
- “The waves of industrial revolutions: The revolutions brought on by steam, steel, electricity, oil, and later, the personal computer, have all relied on machines. Now we find ourselves on the cusp of the AI revolution, which is no exception. At its best, automation will allow individuals to devote more time to social and recreational activities, and public policies can focus on alleviating distributional gaps due to labor market displacement.” (I’ll believe each of these last two points when I actually see them happening!) “This time around, though, our machines are taking shapes and forms that look a lot like us.”
Themes: inequality, technology, AI, bias, and more - all explored with clarity and precision. Lobel’s writing is excellent: well-structured, concise, and persuasive without veering into ranting.
I’d recommend this book to anyone interested in equality or technology. It’s especially valuable for skeptics of AI, as it highlights the many ways AI is already making a positive impact.
Final thought: There is far more inequality than meets the eye, and AI can play a powerful role in advancing equality.
January 1, 2023
It's unfortunate when a book about such an important topic is too focused on making derivative points rather than actually exploring the problems and potential solutions humanity is facing. This felt more like an academic thesis than an actual book, which means most non-academics will struggle to engage with it on a meaningful level.
There were many good points raised and I agreed with the premise as a whole, but far too often, the author made weak arguments, reasoned poorly about perceived consequences, and examined the various subjects from a dubious perspective. They talked extensively about biases but failed to consider their own, which led to a one-sided analysis that wasn't very convincing.
It's not an awful book by any means, but I can't see it convincing anyone who doesn't already agree with its premise. It's poorly written, in so far that it's very dry and overly concerned about peppering the reader with data rather than exploring the issues in an engaging way. Not a book I'll be recommending, even if there are some pieces of information more people should ideally know about.
There were many good points raised and I agreed with the premise as a whole, but far too often, the author made weak arguments, reasoned poorly about perceived consequences, and examined the various subjects from a dubious perspective. They talked extensively about biases but failed to consider their own, which led to a one-sided analysis that wasn't very convincing.
It's not an awful book by any means, but I can't see it convincing anyone who doesn't already agree with its premise. It's poorly written, in so far that it's very dry and overly concerned about peppering the reader with data rather than exploring the issues in an engaging way. Not a book I'll be recommending, even if there are some pieces of information more people should ideally know about.
April 18, 2025
“The Equality Machine” isn’t the kind of book that screams for attention. It doesn’t indulge in scare tactics or paint artificial intelligence as either a savior or a destroyer. Instead, it offers something harder to find: clarity. The author takes a calm, evidence-based approach to AI’s role in addressing and sometimes reinforcing human biases. This restraint might not win clicks or outrage-fueled debates, but it does something more important—it equips readers with tools to think critically about technology’s potential and pitfalls.
One of the book’s standout points is its exploration of how AI can uncover biases that humans often miss. For instance, hiring algorithms have been scrutinized for perpetuating discrimination, but the author flips this narrative. They show how these systems can also expose patterns of bias that recruiters might overlook. A human evaluator might unconsciously favor candidates from certain schools or backgrounds without even realizing it. AI, on the other hand, can flag these tendencies, offering a chance to correct them. Examples like this—loan approvals skewed by geography, medical diagnoses influenced by race—are present throughout the book.
Another strength is the argument that fixing biases in AI is often simpler than tackling them in human systems. Human decision-makers rarely like being questioned on their own judgments. An algorithm, however, can be audited and adjusted. If a model shows racial disparities in loan approvals, you can retrain it. You can’t easily “reprogram” a person entrenched in societal prejudices. The author makes this point not to glorify AI but to highlight its unique advantage: it can be debugged. The process isn’t foolproof or automatic. But, it is far easier to improve where there is will.
The book also dives into the ethical gray areas of bias correction. Not all biases are inherently bad. A basketball coach prioritizing height or speed isn’t discriminatory, which is easy to understand. Similarly, and more difficult to agree with, could be a factory foreman building a cohesive team by emphasizing shared cultural experiences. AI makes such choices explicit. Synthetic data plays a key role here, although it is not discussed in the book, which was written at a time when its capabilities were less apparent. By creating balanced datasets free from historical inequities, AI lets users decide which biases to keep, reduce, or discard. The emphasis is on intentionality—you can’t fix what you don’t acknowledge, and AI shines a light on these trade-offs.
What’s refreshing is how the book counters the reflex to blame technology for problems rooted in society. Critics often attack AI for failing to meet idealistic standards, but the author counters that fairness is inherently messy. Should an algorithm prioritize diversity over qualifications? Should it reflect societal norms or challenge them? These are more moral, social, political, and even context-dependent economic questions than technological. Blaming AI often unites people with diverse and irreconcilable views on thorny subjects. Technology may make situations worse from the viewpoint of one side discussing the evils of the other, but the same technology could help both see the problems more clearly if they so desire, leading to more constructive resolutions.
The book’s pragmatic approach would be boring for many. Readers seeking dramatic warnings about AI’s dangers may find the tone too measured. But for those tired of sensationalism, this is a breath of fresh air. The author doesn’t shy away from complexity. She is happy to reach practical conclusions with less-than-perfect utopian scenarios.
Ultimately, the book succeeds because it refuses to oversimplify to capture the theoretical high ground. AI is not merely the proverbial weapon that one can blame or not blame when abused; it is actually a powerful tool that equality-seeking people can use to bring about effective changes that would be impossible otherwise. For anyone interested in AI’s role in shaping society, this is a must-read. This is because it’s not flashy or alarmist, but logical and honest.
One of the book’s standout points is its exploration of how AI can uncover biases that humans often miss. For instance, hiring algorithms have been scrutinized for perpetuating discrimination, but the author flips this narrative. They show how these systems can also expose patterns of bias that recruiters might overlook. A human evaluator might unconsciously favor candidates from certain schools or backgrounds without even realizing it. AI, on the other hand, can flag these tendencies, offering a chance to correct them. Examples like this—loan approvals skewed by geography, medical diagnoses influenced by race—are present throughout the book.
Another strength is the argument that fixing biases in AI is often simpler than tackling them in human systems. Human decision-makers rarely like being questioned on their own judgments. An algorithm, however, can be audited and adjusted. If a model shows racial disparities in loan approvals, you can retrain it. You can’t easily “reprogram” a person entrenched in societal prejudices. The author makes this point not to glorify AI but to highlight its unique advantage: it can be debugged. The process isn’t foolproof or automatic. But, it is far easier to improve where there is will.
The book also dives into the ethical gray areas of bias correction. Not all biases are inherently bad. A basketball coach prioritizing height or speed isn’t discriminatory, which is easy to understand. Similarly, and more difficult to agree with, could be a factory foreman building a cohesive team by emphasizing shared cultural experiences. AI makes such choices explicit. Synthetic data plays a key role here, although it is not discussed in the book, which was written at a time when its capabilities were less apparent. By creating balanced datasets free from historical inequities, AI lets users decide which biases to keep, reduce, or discard. The emphasis is on intentionality—you can’t fix what you don’t acknowledge, and AI shines a light on these trade-offs.
What’s refreshing is how the book counters the reflex to blame technology for problems rooted in society. Critics often attack AI for failing to meet idealistic standards, but the author counters that fairness is inherently messy. Should an algorithm prioritize diversity over qualifications? Should it reflect societal norms or challenge them? These are more moral, social, political, and even context-dependent economic questions than technological. Blaming AI often unites people with diverse and irreconcilable views on thorny subjects. Technology may make situations worse from the viewpoint of one side discussing the evils of the other, but the same technology could help both see the problems more clearly if they so desire, leading to more constructive resolutions.
The book’s pragmatic approach would be boring for many. Readers seeking dramatic warnings about AI’s dangers may find the tone too measured. But for those tired of sensationalism, this is a breath of fresh air. The author doesn’t shy away from complexity. She is happy to reach practical conclusions with less-than-perfect utopian scenarios.
Ultimately, the book succeeds because it refuses to oversimplify to capture the theoretical high ground. AI is not merely the proverbial weapon that one can blame or not blame when abused; it is actually a powerful tool that equality-seeking people can use to bring about effective changes that would be impossible otherwise. For anyone interested in AI’s role in shaping society, this is a must-read. This is because it’s not flashy or alarmist, but logical and honest.
January 5, 2023
Lobel's book looks at the role that information technology can play in creating a more equitable world. Showing how information technology is a product of the environment which creates it she outlines how that landscape can be manipulated for better outcomes to achieve, racial & gender equality.
"Just like information, knowledge, innovation, and our talent pools more generally, AI and data should be understood as a commons-a shared resource capable of addressing some of the world's toughest problems: global health and pandemics, world hunger, environmental sustainability and climate change, and poverty and inequality." 9
"...diversity is intertwined with multidisciplinary inquiry: technology should be thought of not as the narrow job of computer scientists and engineers, but rather as the work of psychologists, ethicists, policymakers, economists, historians, artists, anthropologists, sociologists, life scientist, and more." 111
"AI can help parse the underlying reasons for inequality, ranging from pure bias to disparities in opportunities and behavorial difference." 23
"Enter algorithmic decision-making. Done right, it can overcome the flaws of human decision-making. As Mullainathan says, "Software on computers can be updated: the 'wetware' in our brains has so far proven less pliable." 48
"Gloria Steinen once said that empathy is the most radical of human emotions." 115
"Here's the problem: with sexualization comes inevitable harassment and gendered ripple effects." 172
"The availability of online dating rewards those interested in immediate casual sexual encounters. People become goods themselves, interchangeable and available to be acquired or traded." 206
"Here is a recurring truth when it comes to technological advancement: the digital world lets us explore sexual identities and fantasies more than ever before, but it has also enabled the monitoring and policing of sexual communication in unprecedented ways." 215
"Play, as Gilden says, is a central mechanism for each of us to construct our identities. It's also how we situate ourselves in culture: 'Through play-whether in a sandbox, board game, chat room, or bedroom-we simultaneously pursue pleasure, engage in creative problem solving, understand how to relate to other people's skills and experience, and move toward solidifying identity and social bonds." 216
"Some evidence shows that gay men are the most likely to exclude partners based on racial preference...Queer theorist Tom Roach explores how Grinder and other male-to-male dating/hookip apps can help reimagine a radical post-pandemic subjectivity-a queer sociability-in which participants are formally interchangeable avatar-objects ("virtual fungibility," as he terms it)." 218
"Our digital spaces and digital capacities are public goods. Data is our new natural resource. Public intervention in the realm of existing technology regulation, but even more importantly at the stages of conception, design, improvement, and dissemination." 298
"Just like information, knowledge, innovation, and our talent pools more generally, AI and data should be understood as a commons-a shared resource capable of addressing some of the world's toughest problems: global health and pandemics, world hunger, environmental sustainability and climate change, and poverty and inequality." 9
"...diversity is intertwined with multidisciplinary inquiry: technology should be thought of not as the narrow job of computer scientists and engineers, but rather as the work of psychologists, ethicists, policymakers, economists, historians, artists, anthropologists, sociologists, life scientist, and more." 111
"AI can help parse the underlying reasons for inequality, ranging from pure bias to disparities in opportunities and behavorial difference." 23
"Enter algorithmic decision-making. Done right, it can overcome the flaws of human decision-making. As Mullainathan says, "Software on computers can be updated: the 'wetware' in our brains has so far proven less pliable." 48
"Gloria Steinen once said that empathy is the most radical of human emotions." 115
"Here's the problem: with sexualization comes inevitable harassment and gendered ripple effects." 172
"The availability of online dating rewards those interested in immediate casual sexual encounters. People become goods themselves, interchangeable and available to be acquired or traded." 206
"Here is a recurring truth when it comes to technological advancement: the digital world lets us explore sexual identities and fantasies more than ever before, but it has also enabled the monitoring and policing of sexual communication in unprecedented ways." 215
"Play, as Gilden says, is a central mechanism for each of us to construct our identities. It's also how we situate ourselves in culture: 'Through play-whether in a sandbox, board game, chat room, or bedroom-we simultaneously pursue pleasure, engage in creative problem solving, understand how to relate to other people's skills and experience, and move toward solidifying identity and social bonds." 216
"Some evidence shows that gay men are the most likely to exclude partners based on racial preference...Queer theorist Tom Roach explores how Grinder and other male-to-male dating/hookip apps can help reimagine a radical post-pandemic subjectivity-a queer sociability-in which participants are formally interchangeable avatar-objects ("virtual fungibility," as he terms it)." 218
"Our digital spaces and digital capacities are public goods. Data is our new natural resource. Public intervention in the realm of existing technology regulation, but even more importantly at the stages of conception, design, improvement, and dissemination." 298
June 16, 2023
The Equality Machine
26/2023
After several dire and pessimistic books on how society is being destroyed by our techno-capitalist creation, I needed something positive and fundamentally optimistic in the Science and Tech Policy arena. This fits the bill nicely. Lobel gives us a forward thinking, feminist-oriented (but still generally intersectional in her acknowledgment of issues facing other marginalized groups) view of how technology can be a force for equality. Maybe the lesson is “technology design involves choices, but it’s not too late to fix bad choices we’ve made.” As Lobel put it “We need to cut through the utopian/dystopian dualism and decipher what can readily be addressed, improved, and correlated, and which problems are more wicked and stickier.”
Bizarrely, the author’s military past probably informs her “it’s not perfect but let’s not panic” attitude. Most academics have more trouble with that nuance. And she finds sufficient evidence that companies are doing good by using the new tools of the big data age to feel that it can be accomplished. One key insight is that it’s easier to find and mitigate bias in a computer algorithm than in a human mind; doing so is an ethical obligation and fortunately, tools exist for erasing bias or even advocating for diverse outcomes in the algorithm.
Similarly, using VR to help raise empathy is a promising area of the humanization of tech. How to mainstream this activity and make it commercially viable still seems to be a key question, however. Meanwhile, the promise of facial recognition to support law enforcement shows just how urgently a framework for ethical use of tech is needed!
The book settles in on robotics issues and spends about 1/3 of the text on it. It takes 294 pages to come to regulatory and legal recommendations, and this is a section that I’d have expected to be more developed, given the author’s legal background.
One trend in “zeitgeist-y” books from academia that I find really unhelpful is the listing of dozens of startups that do whatever the author says is important. That exists here in spades. Maybe it’s to show that the author has a vision beyond the ivory tower. The problem I have with it is that we don’t get enough detail of method or challenges still faced by those companies, and that most of them won’t be around in 5 years, meaning that it feels marketing-like rather than authoritative.
26/2023
After several dire and pessimistic books on how society is being destroyed by our techno-capitalist creation, I needed something positive and fundamentally optimistic in the Science and Tech Policy arena. This fits the bill nicely. Lobel gives us a forward thinking, feminist-oriented (but still generally intersectional in her acknowledgment of issues facing other marginalized groups) view of how technology can be a force for equality. Maybe the lesson is “technology design involves choices, but it’s not too late to fix bad choices we’ve made.” As Lobel put it “We need to cut through the utopian/dystopian dualism and decipher what can readily be addressed, improved, and correlated, and which problems are more wicked and stickier.”
Bizarrely, the author’s military past probably informs her “it’s not perfect but let’s not panic” attitude. Most academics have more trouble with that nuance. And she finds sufficient evidence that companies are doing good by using the new tools of the big data age to feel that it can be accomplished. One key insight is that it’s easier to find and mitigate bias in a computer algorithm than in a human mind; doing so is an ethical obligation and fortunately, tools exist for erasing bias or even advocating for diverse outcomes in the algorithm.
Similarly, using VR to help raise empathy is a promising area of the humanization of tech. How to mainstream this activity and make it commercially viable still seems to be a key question, however. Meanwhile, the promise of facial recognition to support law enforcement shows just how urgently a framework for ethical use of tech is needed!
The book settles in on robotics issues and spends about 1/3 of the text on it. It takes 294 pages to come to regulatory and legal recommendations, and this is a section that I’d have expected to be more developed, given the author’s legal background.
One trend in “zeitgeist-y” books from academia that I find really unhelpful is the listing of dozens of startups that do whatever the author says is important. That exists here in spades. Maybe it’s to show that the author has a vision beyond the ivory tower. The problem I have with it is that we don’t get enough detail of method or challenges still faced by those companies, and that most of them won’t be around in 5 years, meaning that it feels marketing-like rather than authoritative.
September 24, 2023
Orly Lobel’s "The Equality Machine" is a must-read in a world in which technology permeates every aspect of a person’s life. Her perspective illuminates technology’s potential to improve life in developing nations such as solving global issues like the poverty crisis. Additionally, "The Equality Machine" discusses how developing technologies can improve the representation and inclusion of women and minorities. This book is crucial in consideration of the rise of new, groundbreaking technologies like ChatGPT and other advancing digital technologies. Lobel's perspective drives home the ways in which new and rapidly growing digital technology has the power to benefit everyone, despite negative presumptions surrounding the development of technology.
December 24, 2022
This book covers a range of topics where technological advancements shape our lives. From jobs and employment, through healthcare, to in home care and even sex! Instead of adopting an extreme fear mongering or a naïve acceptance, the book demonstrates the trade-offs and helps show what and how we should be thinking about out evolving world.
This should be interesting to anyone curious about where things are headed, and how might we get there successfully.
Highly recommended!
This should be interesting to anyone curious about where things are headed, and how might we get there successfully.
Highly recommended!
December 24, 2022
This book provides an expert analysis of the opportunities and challenges which arise with growing digital technologies and AI. It is a must-read for everyone, as we continue to enter this digital age and is an extremely informative and enjoyable read. I particularly enjoyed the hopeful tone set throughout the book in explaining how technology can be harnessed in a positive way within our society. 10/10 recommend!
July 10, 2023
Lobel is a master storyteller and The Equality Machine grips and buzzes with insights. I could not recommend this book more, especially right now when all the dooms day people are telling us distorted stories that go nowhere about the future of technology. Lobel gives us research based directions, the book is based on facts, empirical studies, interviews, expertise and common sense. On top of all that, it is a really fun and sometimes funny, read.
August 30, 2023
A masterfully-researched, insightful, clear-eyed account of the tech’s capabilities to enhance the lived experience, Lobel’s work also forewarns of downside risks through exposition of existing harms. The theory of the book was evident albeit meandering and loosely centered around a metaphor that would have left a greater impact if it was tidied up a bit. Intrigue oscillated from chapter-to-chapter and story-to-story.
October 18, 2022
The Equality Machine brings a fresh perspective to the topic of digital technology that is forward looking, balanced, and realistic. Lobel’s approach reconciles the inevitable rise of technology with efforts towards creating a more equitable world. This compelling new book is sure to open your mind to just how far we can take digital technology for purposes of social good.
May 18, 2023
Optimist book abour AI (pre chatGPT)
This book offers an optimistic view of AI. In particular, Lobel claims that AI can be used to diminish inequality. Throughout the book, the author shows examples of various settings where this can be done. Nonetheless, the author's positiveness did not stick with me.
The book is pretty straightforward to read.
This book offers an optimistic view of AI. In particular, Lobel claims that AI can be used to diminish inequality. Throughout the book, the author shows examples of various settings where this can be done. Nonetheless, the author's positiveness did not stick with me.
The book is pretty straightforward to read.
August 10, 2023
Lobel used her high academic skills to write an evaluation of technological advances and AI in our daily lives.
This book is an essential read. Especially for whom who relies on technology in their day-to-day lives. It presents an optimistic approach, and the advantages of using and feeding the AI machines in our lives.
This book is an essential read. Especially for whom who relies on technology in their day-to-day lives. It presents an optimistic approach, and the advantages of using and feeding the AI machines in our lives.
August 14, 2023
The Equality Machine is a very interesting look into the potential of technology to shape our future. Due to her vast underlying knowledge, Lobel's work spans from history, economics, law, computer science and all the way to art and literature. This serves to make the book comprehensive and very relevant to multiple disciplines.
March 7, 2023
Chock full of examples. Provocative by comparison to the existing views of AI. But to get a sense of how technology can help and not just be misused against humanity, this book gives a lot of great examples to think about.
December 15, 2025
quite a positive spin on AI/tech integration, i did think the stats and info about the invention of voice assistants was interesting and a worthy read. I'm just not going to ever be a fan of AI or those tools....
December 24, 2022
brilliant expose of the mistaken ways the media and popular debates talk about technology. brilliant writer.
January 3, 2023
Much needed cut through the prevalent dystopian/utopian duality.
April 11, 2023
A lot of quotables. Loved the current examples of "equitable tech" being implemented. Keep your browser nearby for this one.
May 15, 2023
Highly recommend this to anyone who likes powerful non-fiction that makes you think, laugh, cry, want to do something in this world.
May 17, 2023
Enjoyed this book so much!
July 7, 2023
Loved this book !!!
July 31, 2023
Finally an original thinker !
July 31, 2023
An amazing novel--very relevant in today's age of artificial intelligence.
August 1, 2023
good writing, good sense.
August 10, 2023
Very nice book!!!
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