6 Ways to combat AI bias with blockchain

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A few weeks back we shared our interview with Marcello Mari (Founder and CEO at SingularityDAO). One of the questions we asked was this: 

Do you think the transparency of blockchain could help to combat bias within AI systems?

And today, we want to dig further into this question and Marcello’s insights. 

The short answer…YES

“Yes,” Marcello said, “the transparency of blockchain data can play a significant role in combating bias within AI systems. Firstly, because blockchain’s immutable ledger ensures that all data inputs and AI model changes are recorded transparently. This allows stakeholders to trace the origins of training data, monitor the evolution of the model, and audit decision-making processes. By identifying bias in the data or algorithms, corrective actions can be taken more efficiently.”

Six ways that blockchain can combat AI bias

1. It makes data auditable and traceable “Blockchain’s immutable ledger ensures that all data inputs and AI model changes are recorded transparently,” said Marcello. “This allows stakeholders to trace the origins of training data, monitor the evolution of the model, and audit decision-making processes. By identifying bias in the data or algorithms, corrective actions can be taken more efficiently.”
2. It verifies the quality and completeness of data“Bias in AI often stems from flawed or incomplete datasets. Blockchain can verify the provenance of data, ensuring it comes from diverse, trustworthy sources. This reduces the risk of biases introduced by skewed or unrepresentative datasets.”
3. It enables secure and open data sharing “Blockchain can facilitate decentralised data marketplaces where diverse datasets are securely shared and accessed,” Marcello pointed out. “This can democratise access to data, ensuring that smaller organisations and underrepresented groups contribute to and benefit from the AI ecosystem. Such inclusivity can mitigate the dominance of biased datasets controlled by a few centralised entities.”
4. It can help identify biases in decision-making processes “By recording AI model outputs, decisions, and reasoning on the blockchain, biases in decision-making processes can be identified and challenged. For example, if an AI system denies a loan or screens job applications unfairly, blockchain-based records can reveal whether the decision was influenced by discriminatory factors.”
5. It enables communities to recognise and raise concerns “Blockchain enables decentralised governance models where communities can oversee AI systems and raise concerns about bias. Smart contracts could enforce rules for ethical AI behavior, ensuring adherence to fairness standards.”
6. It can offer incentives to AI developers who make fairness a priority “Through tokenised incentives, blockchain can reward data contributors and developers who prioritise fairness and reduce bias in their datasets and models. This could foster a culture of ethical AI development.” 

Blockchain and AI: A mutually beneficial relationship 

Just as blockchain can help to solve some of the most important problems in AI, AI is also key to overcoming the obstacles that stand in the way of blockchain growth – enabling blockchain systems that are scalable, adaptable, and efficient. 

It’s a win-win. And we’re pretty excited to see how AI and blockchain grow together. 

We’d love to know what you think: open this newsletter on LinkedIn, head to the comments, and tell us the most exciting developments you expect to see at the intersection of blockchain and AI.