Bias and Innacuracies
Bias, especially concerning race and gender, is an ethical concern addressed in the readings. Can you think of any instances of AI models being called out for any form of bias? If not, explain a hypothetical case of bias that could be relevant to the fashion industry.
One real life example, reported by Crescendo, showed that popular generative AI image tools like DALL·E 2 and Stable Diffusion showed significant biases. When asked to generate images for professions such as "CEO" or "engineer," the AI overwhelmingly produced images of white males. Conversely, prompts like "housekeeper" or "nurse" primarily generated images of women or minorities, reflecting stereotypical biases embedded in training data.
In late 2022, the viral Lensa AI app generated stylized avatars based on users' selfies. Users reported gender biases, with female avatars often sexualized or depicted in suggestive poses, regardless of the original image provided. Male avatars, meanwhile, were more frequently portrayed as heroic or powerful, highlighting stereotypical portrayals of gender.
The required readings established consumer trust is an important factor in implementation of AI in retail. What percentage of consumers say that they trust AI in retail?
According to YouGov, One in four (26%) of Americans say they trust AI in retail, while 33% say they don’t.
The European Union Artificial Intelligence Act has been active since February 2024, marking one of the first large-scale government regulations of AI. Who is required to follow this act?
According to the EU, "Those that intend to place on the market or put into service high-risk AI systems in the EU, regardless of whether they are based in the EU or a third country." are affected, meaning American retailers may also have to follow these guidelines.
AI systems require freshwater to cool their systems, this water, unlike most freshwater uses, can not be put back into the water cycle. About how many queries does it take to use up one bottle of freshwater?
A 2023 study by the University of California Riverside estimated that an AI chat session of 20 or so queries uses up to a bottle of freshwater.
AI can notoriously make inaccurate decisions and give false information. Who is held responsible for AI-caused harm?
Although the EU AI act introduces "accountability" to adhere to its AI ethical regulations, no one is legally held responsible for the actions of AI in terms of misinformation, etc.
This was seen in the ongoing complaint, Raine v. OpenAI (US District Court, N.D. California, filed 26 Aug 2025). Last year, 17-year-old Adam Raine started to talk with ChatGPT about suicidal thoughts. OpenAI’s GPT-4o did not raise alarm bells or call for help. It engaged. It empathized, advised, and even discussed various suicide methods under the guise of “character development.” Adam took his life in April 2025. His parents are now suing OpenAI for negligence and wrongful death.
Some complaints have suggested that AI data has been collected without users' knowledge and used for purposes not disclosed to them. According the the EU AI act, how is data collected and used ethically by retailers and companies?
"Under the principle of purpose limitation, companies must have a specific, lawful purpose in mind for any data they collect. They must convey that purpose to users and only collect the minimum amount of data required for that purpose.
Companies must also use data fairly. They must keep users informed about the processing of personal data and follow data protection rules. Under the principle of storage limitation, a company should only keep personal data until its purpose is fulfilled. Data should be deleted once it is no longer needed."
Multiple bills regarding AI have been introduced in US congress since its inception. How many laws regarding ethical AI usage have been passed in the United States, on a federal level, as of 2026?
Zero! Bills, such as the Artificial Intelligence Environmental Impacts of 2024, have been introduced in congress, but have never moved forward.
Recently, AI has been emerging as a more finely tuned alternative to a traditional google search. Compared to a google search query, about how much power does a request through ChatGPT require?
According to International Energy Agency," A request made through ChatGPT, an AI-based virtual assistant, consumes 10 times the electricity of a Google Search."
On a state level, around 100 AI regulations have been adopted on various topics. How many states have enacted one or more of these measures?
38 states, including Arkansas, Montana, New Jersey, and New York, among others.
Many AI data centers require diesel generators used as a backup for normal electrical power. In comparison to a natural gas plant, about how much more nitrous oxide gases are released from the diesel generators used in data centers?
these diesel generators can release 200 to 600 times more nitrous oxides (NOx) than a natural gas plant while producing the same amount of energy. According to the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, IEEE, data centers caused about $6 billion in public health damages due to this type of air pollution in 2023. That being said, location matters. Often, these data centers choose rural areas, and in cases like that of Bessemer, Alabama, these areas are often home to a large Black population.