As artificial intelligence systems increasingly take on roles in determining public benefits during the Trump presidency, concerns about bias and the disproportionate impact on low income communities is raising alarms. 

University of Michigan School of Information assistant professor Ben Green warns of a disturbing pattern in how AI systems are being deployed in decision making under the Trump administration’s efforts to shrink the federal government. 

“There’s an initial goal connected to austerity and budget cuts and viewing people getting welfare with suspicion rather than making sure people who are eligible are getting access,” he says. 

This has led to AI implementation becoming “harsher and more inconsistent” and raises serious concerns about fairness, accountability and the potential for systemic harm among vulnerable populations. 

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Read “Trump’s AI push raises red flags for poorest Americans” at the Context. 

Learn more about UMSI assistant professor Ben Green by visiting his UMSI faculty profile.