The State of AI Ethics Report (January 2021)

Algorithmic discrimination remains a critical concern across multiple domains: The report documents ongoing issues with algorithmic injustice and discrimination, indicating that AI systems continue to perpetuate bias in ways that affect real people's lives across various sectors.

Black women face systematic erasure in AI and knowledge production: The exclusive "Abuse and Misogynoir Playbook" by MIT researchers reveals historical patterns of silencing and erasure of Black women's contributions to knowledge and scholarship, highlighting how bias operates at institutional and systemic levels within AI and academic fields.

AI ethics spans interconnected problem areas requiring holistic attention: The report covers multiple domains—including labor impacts, misinformation, privacy, security, and social media—suggesting that responsible AI requires addressing ethics across interconnected challenges rather than in isolation.

Diverse stakeholders need accessible information on AI ethics developments: By targeting audiences from machine learning experts to human rights activists and policymakers, the report recognizes that responsible AI governance requires shared understanding across technical and non-technical communities.

Rapid developments demand ongoing monitoring and synthesis: As the 3rd edition capturing changes since October 2020, the report emphasizes that AI ethics is an evolving field requiring continuous tracking of new research, reporting, and expert insights to keep pace with technological change.