Re-inventing the Attention Machine

Re-inventing the Attention Machine
Today, algorithmic systems such as social media feeds and generative AI systems increasingly mediate human interactions and experiences. But interactions with these black-boxes reflect the worst of us due to impoverished objectives that amplify problematic content, induce algorithmic overreliance and monoculture. Existing attention-maximizing objectives optimize for engagement signals that are (at best) an indirect proxy of users’ preferences and underlying values. In this talk, I will discuss work on scaling the measurement of social AI systems to highlight the gaps in existing algorithmic objectives and propose new objectives for evaluating and steering social algorithms. First, I will show an approach for fighting the algorithmic amplification of misinformation on social media through a decentralized accuracy prompt that increases user discernment and in turn steers the algorithmic objective. Next, I will discuss how to support a wider set of human values in social media algorithms by introducing a personalized method for measuring human values in social media posts. I will then use this tool to show that X’s in-production feed algorithm is misaligned with its user’s values. I will close with implications for human creativity and content production. Together, this work underscores the promise of new forms of interactions with algorithmic systems that center human agency for prosocial outcomes.
About our speaker
Ziv Epstein is a Postdoctoral Associate at the Schwarzman College of Computing at MIT. In his research, he focuses on translating insights from design and the social sciences into the development of sociotechnical systems such as generative AI and social media platforms. Ziv has published papers in venues such as the general interest journals Nature, Science and PNAS, as well as top-tier computer science proceedings such as CHI and CSCW. His work has also received widespread media attention in outlets like the New York Times, Scientific American, and NPR..
How to Get There
Public transportation: Take the Orange Line to Ruggles or the Green Line to Northeastern University. Upon arrival to Khoury College, West Village H, take the elevator to the third floor, then turn left and proceed to Room 366.

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