Designing Conversational Assistants to Reduce Gender Bias
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Strathclyde
Department Name: Faculty of Humanities and Social Science
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Benedict Jones (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Jones BC
(2023)
Mapping physical characteristics in face images to social judgements.
in British journal of psychology (London, England : 1953)
Shiramizu VKM
(2022)
The role of valence, dominance, and pitch in perceptions of artificial intelligence (AI) conversational agents' voices.
in Scientific reports
| Description | There is growing concern that artificial intelligence conversational agents (e.g., Siri, Alexa) reinforce gender stereotypes. Because little is known about social perceptions of conversational agents' voices, we investigated (1) the dimensions that underpin perceptions of these synthetic voices and (2) the role that acoustic parameters play in these perceptions. Study 1 (N = 504) found that perceptions of synthetic voices are underpinned by Valence and Dominance components similar to those previously reported for natural human stimuli and that the Dominance component was strongly and negatively related to voice pitch. Study 2 (N = 160) found that experimentally manipulating pitch in synthetic voices directly influenced dominance-related, but not valence-related, perceptions. Further work we have conducted has demonstrated that reported willingness to verbally abuse conversational assistants is highly correlated with scores on both the Valence and Dominance components (Study 3) and that perceptions of dominance-related traits differ markedly for male and voices assistants' voices (Study 4). Collectively, these results suggest that greater consideration of the role that voice pitch plays in dominance-related perceptions when designing conversational agents may be an effective method for controlling stereotypic perceptions of their voices and the downstream consequences of those perceptions. |
| Exploitation Route | Our findings highlight the key role voice pitch plays in stereotypic perceptions of conversational agents. They also suggest hat greater consideration of the role that voice pitch plays in dominance-related perceptions when designing conversational agents may be an effective method for controlling both stereotypic perceptions of their voices and the downstream consequences of those perceptions. |
| Sectors | Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Education,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
| Title | Do people perceive male and female artificial intelligence (AI) conversational agents' voices differently? |
| Description | Trait ratings of AI conversational assistant's voices. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Basis of preprint. |
| URL | https://osf.io/dxzk7/ |
| Title | The role of valence, dominance, and pitch in social perceptions of artificial intelligence (AI) conversational agents' voices |
| Description | Data from first two studies conducted for "The role of valence, dominance, and pitch in social perceptions of artificial intelligence (AI) conversational agents' voices" |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | First dataset to document the dimensions and acoustic correlates underpinning social perceptions of conversational agents' voices. |
| URL | https://osf.io/4zgrf/ |
| Description | Designing conversational assistants to reduce gender bias |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Blog post on UKRI website |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.ukri.org/blog/designing-conversational-assistants-to-reduce-gender-bias/ |
| Description | Gendering AI: The case of conversational assistants |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Interactive online debate held as part of the Edinburgh Science Festival. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |