Challenging the Human-in-the-loop in Algorithmic Decision-making

Fuente: arXiv
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Autores principales: Tschiatschek, Sebastian, Stamboliev, Eugenia, Schmude, Timothée, Coeckelbergh, Mark, Koesten, Laura
Formato: Preprint
Publicado: 2024
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author Tschiatschek, Sebastian
Stamboliev, Eugenia
Schmude, Timothée
Coeckelbergh, Mark
Koesten, Laura
author_facet Tschiatschek, Sebastian
Stamboliev, Eugenia
Schmude, Timothée
Coeckelbergh, Mark
Koesten, Laura
contents We discuss the role of humans in algorithmic decision-making (ADM) for socially relevant problems from a technical and philosophical perspective. In particular, we illustrate tensions arising from diverse expectations, values, and constraints by and on the humans involved. To this end, we assume that a strategic decision-maker (SDM) introduces ADM to optimize strategic and societal goals while the algorithms' recommended actions are overseen by a practical decision-maker (PDM) - a specific human-in-the-loop - who makes the final decisions. While the PDM is typically assumed to be a corrective, it can counteract the realization of the SDM's desired goals and societal values not least because of a misalignment of these values and unmet information needs of the PDM. This has significant implications for the distribution of power between the stakeholders in ADM, their constraints, and information needs. In particular, we emphasize the overseeing PDM's role as a potential political and ethical decision maker, who acts expected to balance strategic, value-driven objectives and on-the-ground individual decisions and constraints. We demonstrate empirically, on a machine learning benchmark dataset, the significant impact an overseeing PDM's decisions can have even if the PDM is constrained to performing only a limited amount of actions differing from the algorithms' recommendations. To ensure that the SDM's intended values are realized, the PDM needs to be provided with appropriate information conveyed through tailored explanations and its role must be characterized clearly. Our findings emphasize the need for an in-depth discussion of the role and power of the PDM and challenge the often-taken view that just including a human-in-the-loop in ADM ensures the 'correct' and 'ethical' functioning of the system.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2405_10706
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Challenging the Human-in-the-loop in Algorithmic Decision-making
Tschiatschek, Sebastian
Stamboliev, Eugenia
Schmude, Timothée
Coeckelbergh, Mark
Koesten, Laura
Machine Learning
We discuss the role of humans in algorithmic decision-making (ADM) for socially relevant problems from a technical and philosophical perspective. In particular, we illustrate tensions arising from diverse expectations, values, and constraints by and on the humans involved. To this end, we assume that a strategic decision-maker (SDM) introduces ADM to optimize strategic and societal goals while the algorithms' recommended actions are overseen by a practical decision-maker (PDM) - a specific human-in-the-loop - who makes the final decisions. While the PDM is typically assumed to be a corrective, it can counteract the realization of the SDM's desired goals and societal values not least because of a misalignment of these values and unmet information needs of the PDM. This has significant implications for the distribution of power between the stakeholders in ADM, their constraints, and information needs. In particular, we emphasize the overseeing PDM's role as a potential political and ethical decision maker, who acts expected to balance strategic, value-driven objectives and on-the-ground individual decisions and constraints. We demonstrate empirically, on a machine learning benchmark dataset, the significant impact an overseeing PDM's decisions can have even if the PDM is constrained to performing only a limited amount of actions differing from the algorithms' recommendations. To ensure that the SDM's intended values are realized, the PDM needs to be provided with appropriate information conveyed through tailored explanations and its role must be characterized clearly. Our findings emphasize the need for an in-depth discussion of the role and power of the PDM and challenge the often-taken view that just including a human-in-the-loop in ADM ensures the 'correct' and 'ethical' functioning of the system.
title Challenging the Human-in-the-loop in Algorithmic Decision-making
topic Machine Learning
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2405.10706