People Powered Algorithms for Desirable Social Outcomes (PPA)
The increasing shift towards a data-driven society, and the growing importance of AI and machine learning means that we are able to delegate a substantial portion of decision making to machines.
Algorithmic decision making is becoming increasingly prevalent in the interactions between state and citizen. This model of ‘digital by default’ is becoming the de facto approach for government-citizen interaction.
This project considers the nature of the relationships between the algorithms, state and citizens and their impact on real-world relationships.
The research offered a cross-disciplinary view of the impacts of the deployment of algorithmic decision making across three key areas of public policy: refugee resettlement, welfare and healthcare provision. These three services are at the forefront of Digital by Default, with algorithms used to better understand the legitimacy of service access and associated spending.
PPA used a range of methods to engage the wider user communities with core issues, including the development of a board game (Space: Interstellar Resettlement Agency).
https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=EP%2FR033382%2F1
https://peoplepoweredalgorithms.org/