When artificial intelligence systems fail, the consequences aren’t always small—or hypothetical. In this episode of The Tinker Table, we dive into what happens after the error: Who’s accountable? Who’s harmed? And what do these failures tell us about the systems we’ve built?

We explore real-world case studies like:

The wrongful arrest of Robert Williams in Detroit due to facial recognition bias, The racially biased predictions of COMPAS, a sentencing algorithm used in U.S. courts, And how predictive policing tools reinforce historical over-policing in marginalized communities, We also tackle AI hallucinations—false but believable outputs from tools like ChatGPT and Bing’s Sydney —and the serious trust issues that result, from fake legal citations to wrongful plagiarism flags.

Finally, we examine the dangers of black-box algorithms—opaque decision-making systems that offer no clarity, no appeal, and no path to accountability.

📌 This episode is your reminder that AI is only as fair, accurate, and just as the humans who design it. We don’t just need smarter machines—we need ethically designed ones.

🔍 Sources & Further Reading:

Facial recognition misidentification

Machine bias

Predictive policing

AI hallucinations

🎧 Tune in to learn why we need more than innovation—we need accountability.

Pull up a chair—this is The Tinker Table. I’m Hannah: a STEM educator, researcher, and deeply curious human. In this short introductory episode, I’ll share what this podcast is all about, what brought me here, and what you can expect in future episodes. If you’ve ever had big questions about the technologies shaping our world—and the values behind them—you’re in the right place. From AI ethics to engineering education to everyday tech choices, we’ll explore how to be more thoughtful, intentional creators and users. Let’s get into it.

Pull up a chair—you’re invited to The Tinker Table. In this short trailer, host Hannah Lloyd introduces the heart behind the podcast: a space where curiosity meets critical thinking, and where we explore the tech shaping our world, one thoughtful question at a time. Whether you’re new to AI or just wondering why ethics matter in innovation, this podcast is for you. Hear what to expect in upcoming episodes, who this show is for, and why now is the perfect time to start asking better questions about the future we’re building.