Artificial Intelligence News & Update: AI Robots Also Face Stereotypical Sexism In The Workplace

Artificial intelligence or AI is among the most favorite subjects today. With AI's versatility and flexibility, you can find them anywhere. There are already companies run by AI and factories with robots operating the machines. But did you know that AI robots also suffer stereotypical sexism in the workplace?

AI Assistants Have Female Names

Gender stereotyping has been an issue for years. Initially, many believe that men are more superior than women. In fact, most engineers, politicians, businesspersons and prominent scientists were men. Meanwhile, women were subject to careers that are related to health care, teaching and nurturing.

We have not crossed the gender gap entirely, but women are already making their marks in the areas that were once dominated by men. Today, there are female police, engineers, scientists and politicians. But dDespite the progress, the issue about stereotypical sexism remains. In fact, according to Quartz, even the AI robots are subject to this problem.

Have you noticed that most AI virtual assistants come with female names? For instance, Apple's AI assistant is named Siri, Amazon has Alexa and Microsoft has Cortana. On the other hand, the New York Times reported that vitual inbox assistants are also given with female identities like Amy, Clara, Cloe, Crystal, Dawn, Donna, Jeannie and Julie.

Parent Herald previously reported about a virtual AI TA (teacher assistant) named Jill Watson. Jill successfully fooled students to believe that she is one of the human virtual assistants in Professor Ashok Goel's Knowledge-Based Artificial Intelligence class.

Sophisticated AI Robots Are Males

While it might appear flattering that AI assistants are named after women, did you know that sophisticated robots have a male identity? According to Quartz, the BakerHostetler firm just hired a male AI lawyer named ROSS.

I would just like to note that all the assistant AIs are given female names, but the lawyer AI is named Ross. https://t.co/rWjnwpYfjs

— Rose Eveleth (@roseveleth) May 12, 2016

Rose Eveleth commented that the male name is unusual in the AI world, where most AI assistants are named after women. Kathleen Richardson, a social anthropologist at University College London and author of "An Anthropology of Robots and AI: Annihilation Anxiety and Machines" has an explanation.

"I think that probably reflects what some men think about women-that they're not fully human beings," Richardson told LiveScience. "What's necessary about them can be replicated, but when it comes to more sophisticated robots, they have to be male. "

Richardson explained that female robots or AI are perceived as less threatening or more friendly than men. She stressed that the robots in "The Terminator" and "The Matrix" are scary, but children or women AI are perceived to be harmless, which makes the users more comfortable with them.

Do you agree that superior AI robots should take a male identity while AI assistants should have a female identity? Do you agree that AI robots are also subject to gender stereotyping or stereotypical sexism? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.