People don't fully understand how discrimination happens, which makes it hard to fix
I'd say that a lot of discrimination nowadays happens because of good intentions.
For example, the IT industry is well known for its use of social networking to hire and promote people. People are making friends with each other and then using their friendly ties to get ahead.
It all sounds friendly and good, until you think about how this might affect women in a male-dominated industry. When a guy invites another guy for a cup of coffee at home and a friendly video game, then it's just that and nothing else. But if an attractive women invites a guy like that, then he'll probably bring a pocket-full of condoms with him, just in case.
It's a lot easier for men to make friends with other men, than it is for women to make friends with men in a non-sexual way. Which means that using social networking for hiring and promotions in a male-dominated industry puts women at a disadvantage. Women are much more limited in what they can do in terms of networking.
Artificial intelligence can't fix a problem that people themselves don't fully understand and talk about.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
