Digital Divide

The digital divide describes the unequal access to and use of digital technologies across socioeconomic and demographic groups, hindering participation in modern society and exacerbating existing inequalities. Current research focuses on mitigating this divide through accessible AI, including explainable AI (XAI) techniques that use non-visual modalities and address biases in algorithms like LLMs, particularly concerning race, gender, and socioeconomic status in applications like hiring and e-health. This work is crucial for promoting digital inclusion and equity, impacting fields from healthcare and employment to urban planning and process safety by ensuring fair and equitable access to and benefits from technological advancements.