I am currently a graduate student (masters in EE) at Santa Clara University studying DSP and AI. Before that, I worked as an FPGA engineer for a few years then switched professions to patent examining at the USPTO for 11 years. I started out examining in GUI (browser-based). After I gained signatory authority I was moved to Machine Learning. Over the years, I missed engineering so I decided to transition back by getting my masters.
As an examiner, a substantial number of cases felt ethically fraught. I’m joining this community to discuss my views and see how my past and current career can shape AI safety.
Most of the proposed fixes in this comment thread accrue a privatized cost, available only to those who can pay it in money, infrastructure, or skill. A $10 gripper, running hot water requires electricity and water paid by the user, retained knowledge and space to store a gripper. It’s infuriating when you get a drink from a gas station on the go and you can’t open it.
This post shows a known concept of an implicit gendered tax. It can also be shown with office hvac systems being designed for male metabolic rates…making women supply an extra sweater or space heater. If interested, this topic is covered in Caroline Criado Perez’s “Invisible Women”. Would highly recommend if you want to look at other examples of how this is shown.