Exploring AI Ethics Through Intelligent Everyday Objects

This paper presents an ongoing research project studying AI ethics and algorithmic bias, through the creation of AI augmented devices operating in everyday life. The project explores the use of interactive objects as a platform for exposing the political, social and ethical implications of Artificial Intelligence. Within this project, we created BOX, a smart gumball machine that locks or unlocks its delivery candy system depending on the interactor’s ethnicity, highlighting potential ethical tensions that arise with the introduction of AI-powered objects. Our project aims to raise awareness on discrimination, ethics, and accountability in AI among practitioners and the general public.