HCII Ph.D. Thesis Defense - Jaemarie Solyst
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Description
Although recent significant innovation in AI has yielded exciting capabilities and benefits, AI has been well-documented to cause harm, such as through algorithmic bias. Marginalized youth under the age of 18 are particularly harmed by AI bias but underexplored as stakeholders and contributors to the design of technology. In this dissertation, I explore emboldening diverse youth through AI literacy and participatory responsible AI engagement opportunities with the design and upkeep of AI. In my studies, I found that diverse youth are capable of understanding and discussing the nuances of AI, and that they can further be supported with AI literacy opportunities that foster critical consciousness and design thinking. I developed and tested a framework to support youth in critiquing AI in three steps: Recognize, Analyze, and Deliberate, finding that this framework helped youth engage in critical discourse about AI ethics. I further explored including youth in early-stages of technology creation as co-design partners, uncovering approaches to run virtual culturally responsive computing workshops. Lastly, I explored including youth in later-stages of ongoing technology upkeep through user-engaged algorithm auditing. Overall, this dissertation lends insight into emboldening diverse youth to engage in shaping the future of responsible AI.