For the Module 8 Mini-Assignment, Wikipedia Edit for Indigenous and DEI narratives, I decided to edit the Prisma Labs Wikipedia page. I chose to do the Prisma Labs page due to recent research that I have completed in partnership with Janita Burgess and Sarah Mate for our AI Ethics Canvas in the recent COMM 597: An Introduction to AI Systems & Ethics class. Using our recent research and unpublished ethics canvas, I individually completed an edit to the Prisma Labs Wikipedia page.
At the time of editing, the Prisma Labs Wikipedia page consisted of a short paragraph on the history of the company, and included one sentence that addressed the hypersexualization of women and girls due to an issue of data bias. Using the research from a past class project, I updated the article to include a section specifically about the Dataset and a subsequent section on Data Bias. I did not edit or update any existing content.
My additions to the Wikipedia page remain under developed and could benefit from further research around gender and racial bias present in the datasets used by Prisma Labs, and the paragraphs could be further flushed out to provide more relevant information on the topic. However, my contributions do include multiple references to outside sources that address these issues and could realistically support critical thinking in the readers looking for more information on the company and it's data use.
When adding the new content, I was pleased with the experience of adding content directly in the article and being able to visually see what the final product would look like as I worked. I wish the citations would copy and paste from a word document, however, they were relatively easy to add from external weblinks. I did notice that some citations had issues, so I had to review the automated versions before approving them. While the automated citations make it easier for someone with low technical knowledge to add citations to a Wikipedia article, it does require a certain level of knowledge about citations and referencing to ensure that the citations are correctly providing the right source.
I personally found this to be an interesting exercise. I do wonder what it would look like if it was a full assignment instead of a mini-assignment, where students were able to invest more time into researching, writing, and editing Wikipedia articles. What kinds of change could be made with more focus and intent.
References:
Burgess, J., Leary, M., & Mate, S. (2023, August 13). AI Art: An Examination of the Ethics of the Lensa App - Companion Document. Unpublished assignment for COMM 587: An Introduction to AI Systems & Ethics class.
Lugosi, N. V., Patrie, N., & Cromwell, K. (2022). Theorizing and implementing meaningful indigenization: Wikipedia as an opportunity for course-based Digital Advocacy. Critical Studies in Education, 64(3), 201–217. https://doi.org/10.1080/17508487.2022.2074489
Prisma Labs. (2024, April 1). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prisma_Labs
Meredith, your contribution to the Prisma Labs Wikipedia page for the Module 8 Mini-Assignment is commendable. Your decision to focus on the Dataset and Data Bias sections is particularly noteworthy, as these areas are crucial for understanding the ethical implications of AI technologies. While you acknowledge that your additions remain underdeveloped, the inclusion of multiple references is a strong foundation for fostering critical thinking among readers. It's also encouraging to hear about your positive experience with the direct editing process on Wikipedia, despite the challenges with citations. Your reflections on the automated citation feature highlight an important aspect of digital literacy that is often overlooked.
ReplyDeleteYour closing thoughts on the potential impact of a more extensive assignment on Wikipedia editing is really interesting. It makes me think about the role of academia in contributing to public knowledge repositories and the potential for meaningful change through collective effort.