---
title: "Performative Ethics From Within the Ivory Tower: How CSPractitioners Uphold Systems of Oppression (Abstract Reprint)"
authors:
  - "Zari McFadden"
  - "Lauren Alvarez"
doi: "10.24963/ijcai.2024/955"
url: "https://ijcai.org/proceedings/2024/955"
pdf: "https://ijcai.org/proceedings/2024/0955.pdf"
venue: "Proceedings of the Thirty-Third International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence"
year: 2024
pages: "8483-8483"
track: "Journal Track"
keywords:
  - "Journal Track: Journal Track"
---

# Performative Ethics From Within the Ivory Tower: How CSPractitioners Uphold Systems of Oppression (Abstract Reprint)

Zari McFadden, Lauren Alvarez

*Proceedings of the Thirty-Third International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence*, pages 8483-8483. DOI: [10.24963/ijcai.2024/955](https://doi.org/10.24963/ijcai.2024/955)

## Abstract

This paper analyzes where Artificial Intelligence (AI) Ethics research fails and breaks down the dangers of well-intentioned, but ultimately performative ethics research. A large majority of AI ethics research is critiqued for lacking a comprehensive analysis of how AI is interconnected with sociological systems of oppression and power. Our work contributes to the handful of research that presents intersectional, Western systems of oppression and power as a framework for examining AI ethics work and the complexities of building less harmful technology; directly connecting technology to named systems such as capitalism and classism, colonialism, racism and white supremacy, patriarchy, and ableism. We then explore current AI ethics rhetoric's effect on the AI ethics domain and AI regulation. In conclusion, we provide an applied example to contextualize intersectional systems of oppression and AI interventions in the U.S. justice system and present actionable steps for AI practitioners to participate in a less performative, critical analysis of AI.

## Full text

## Performative Ethics From Within the Ivory Tower: How CSPractitioners Uphold Systems of Oppression (Abstract Reprint)

Zari McFadden and Lauren Alvarez

North Carolina State University zmcfadd@ncsu.edu, lalvare@ncsu.edu

Abstract Reprint. This is an abstract reprint of a journal by [McFadden and Alvarez, 2024].

## Abstract

This paper analyzes where Artificial Intelligence (AI) ethics research fails and breaks down the dangers of wellintentioned but ultimately performative ethics research. A large majority of AI ethics research is criticized for not providing a comprehensive analysis of how AI is interconnected with sociological systems of oppression and power. Our work contributes to the handful of research that presents intersectional, Western systems of oppression and power as a framework for examining AI ethics work and the complexities of building less harmful technology; directly connecting technology to named systems such as capitalism and classism, colonialism, racism and white supremacy, patriarchy, and ableism.We then explore current AI ethics rhetoric's effect on the AI ethics domain. We conclude by providing an applied example to contextualize intersectional systems of oppression and AI interventions in the US justice system and present actionable steps for AI practitioners to participate in a less performative, critical analysis of AI.

## References

1. [McFadden and Alvarez, 2024] Zari McFadden and Lauren Alvarez. Performative ethics from within the ivory tower: How CS practitioners uphold systems of oppression. J. Artif. Intell. Res., 79:777-799, 2024.