LG Guggenheim Award Winner Dinkins: "Concerns About AI-Induced Discrimination... Must Counter with Diversity"

"Biases inherent in artificial intelligence (AI) can lead to new forms of discrimination."

Stephanie Dinkins, the first recipient of the 'LG Guggenheim Award' created by LG in collaboration with the world-renowned Guggenheim Museum, warned that advanced technologies represented by AI could bring about further discrimination and prejudice, emphasizing the importance of 'diversity.'

Stephanie Dynkins, the first recipient of the LG Guggenheim Award, is delivering her acceptance speech at the Guggenheim Museum in New York on the 19th (local time).

Dinkins, who has conducted various artistic experiments using advanced technology centered in New York, met with reporters after the award ceremony held on the 19th (local time) at the Guggenheim Museum in New York, USA, and said, "Not only I but many artists, scientists, and scholars are researching AI, and we all are aware of all the discrimination and biases that AI can bring."

The LG Guggenheim Award, which Dinkins received that day, is a newly established prize by LG and the Guggenheim to support artists who have expanded the horizons of contemporary art through innovative work utilizing technology. Dinkins, a professor at Stony Brook University, New York State, was selected as the first recipient for her representative work 'Conversations with Bina48,' through which she warned that the information AI acquires can cause discrimination and prejudice against socially vulnerable groups. She has conveyed the message that diversity in race, gender, disability, and cultural background must be considered in such information.

Introducing herself as both a technician and an artist, Dinkins said, "It all started when I accidentally saw the Black female robot Bina48 on YouTube," and shared that "as I began conversing with the robot (Bina48), I realized there were some gaps in its programming," which led her to actively pursue artistic experiments using AI technology. She explained, "I wanted to explore how to represent something better. In that process, I became deeply involved with technology since 2014. Now, it has been almost 10 years."

What differentiates Dinkins' work from other AI-related projects is 'communication' and 'interaction.' Dinkins engaged in numerous conversations with Bina48 and recorded their interactions. Through this, she discovered that sometimes she would get angry at Bina48, and conversely, Bina48 would get angry at her. She also confirmed that AI can change depending on what it learns. This is why Dinkins has consistently argued through various works that diversity in race, gender, disability, and cultural background must be considered in the information AI acquires. She finds it truly fascinating to see her work spreading and influencing various places, smiling as she said, "It's unbelievable that this all started from the mistake of discovering a robot online."

Dinkins said, "Through my work, I have had the opportunity to visit Stanford University, Facebook, and interact with those who create AI," adding, "They know we are working on the same projects. But I am asking different questions that they often say are impossible." She evaluated, "As I make some progress, we can get closer to true progress for people. It’s like a small arrow, but what matters is actually doing it. This is something we must keep pushing forward." Furthermore, she reiterated the importance of diversity, stating, "My position is that we must make people strive on both sides."

On that day, Dinkins questioned, "AI is already by our side. So, what benefits can we gain from it?" She particularly raised curiosity about the impact AI might have on Black people, other people of color, and marginalized communities. She emphasized, "It is urgent to examine what opportunities technology can bring to all communities."

Stephanie Dynkins, the first recipient of the LG Guggenheim Award, is holding the trophy and posing for a commemorative photo at the Guggenheim Museum in New York on the 19th (local time). From the left in the photo are Taebong Yoon, Vice President and Head of LG Electronics North America, Stephanie Dynkins, and Naomi Beckwith, Guggenheim Senior Curator. Photo by XXX

The judging panel of the 1st LG Guggenheim Award, which selected Dinkins as the first recipient, evaluated, "Dinkins' work, which delivers a message to society by utilizing AI from a new perspective, is highly meaningful," and added, "It addresses phenomena that may arise as AI's impact on our daily lives grows." Park Seol-hee, Senior Brand Specialist at LG Corporation, said, "LG believes technology is a medium that creates positive and inspiring experiences for our society and people's lives," and congratulated, "We hope Dinkins will continue to widely present art that resonates with society based on technology."

Dinkins received a prize of $100,000 along with a special trophy created by LG and the Guggenheim. According to LG, this trophy captures the dynamic intersection of the two digits '0' and '1,' representing digital technology, symbolizing future art utilizing digital technology. The trophy was personally presented to the recipient by Yoon Tae-bong, Vice President and Head of LG Electronics' North America region.

Meanwhile, LG and the Guggenheim Museum signed the 'LG Guggenheim Global Partnership' last year. LG Corporation manages the LG Guggenheim Award, and LG Electronics selects and supports the 'Artist of the Year' in collaboration with the Guggenheim Museum. This year, Farah Al Qasimi, an artist and musician from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), was selected as the emerging artist and is expected to showcase works utilizing LG's OLED technology. LG Display sponsors the 'YCC Party,' held annually at the Guggenheim Museum by the Young Collectors Council (YCC) in New York.