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NYC Council meetings, chaptered and linked by time.

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Q&A

Joseph questions DOE on addressing AI bias

New York City Council · Jun 24, 2026 · starts 1:48:08 · 1 min 54 sec

Joseph asks how DOE addresses biases in existing AI tools. Dr. Pate acknowledges there is no endorsed tool that tracks bias, calling it a 'mega problem,' and says DOE is looking for resources. She emphasizes AI literacy development and awareness that AI can be wrong as the primary approach.

Rita C. Joseph

And one thing we want to address with AI, how are you addressing biases that do exist in existing AI tools now?

Dr. Pate

So currently there isn't a solid tool that we have endorsed that tracks or trace or keeps account of bias, but we do know that it is, again, a mega problem that we are looking for.

Dr. Pate

Resources that help us do that.

Dr. Pate

But we don't have a solid tool that we are currently utilizing to engage in that work.

Dr. Pate

I think where we can really kind of dig our heels in is around AI literacy.

Dr. Pate

Development and awareness.

Dr. Pate

I think people have to understand that it can be wrong.

Dr. Pate

It is not all

Rita C. Joseph

And it says that too.

Rita C. Joseph

If you're depending on the prompt that you type in, it will say this answer may not be accurate.

Rita C. Joseph

You should do further research on it.

Dr. Pate

Yes.

Dr. Pate

So the development really comes through awareness to your point.

Dr. Pate

So the more we get that message out to educators, we get that message out to school leaders, we get that message out to students.

Dr. Pate

By spreading that message, we start to build an awareness that you shouldn't put everything and trust it all as is.

Dr. Pate

You still must continue to critically think.

Dr. Pate

You must engage with AI technology, not as a consumer, but as a producer, meaning that you are asking it.

Dr. Pate

Questions that will probe your thinking, not to deliver and to give you blanket answers that may or may not be true.

Dr. Pate

So it really is about building awareness around a rapidly evolving, as you said, every day.

Dr. Pate

It's a monster at this point.

Rita C. Joseph

Yes, it is.