BBC developing ‘ethical’ AI to keep viewers out of echo chambers

THE BBC is developing technology to encourage people to watch programmes and read news outside their comfort zones, as it seeks to puncture online “echo chambers” that reinforce biases.

Storm Fagan, who is in charge of the BBC’S digital products, said the corporation was pursuing an “ethical approach” to artificial intelligence (AI) designed to serve up articles and iplayer suggestions tailored to users’ interests. The use of “machine-learning” systems by social media giants including Youtube and Facebook has attracted heavy criticism as they can deliver an increasingly one-sided or potentially extreme diet of material.

Ms Fagan said the BBC was sensitive to such dangers, including the need to ensure licence-fee payers were offered regional and national material.

She said: “We have a really ethical approach to machine learning, where we are looking at removing any bias from the algorithm. It means we are seeing really good quality return on results for users. We can balance national versus local as well because you are not reinforcing an echo chamber. You are showing them a more curated view of BBC content.”

The BBC remains dominant in British media, reaching more than 38 million people in April. Research by Ofcom has shown nearly half of adults now use social media for news.

Richard Sharp, the BBC chairman, told a Lords committee hearing last month that the broadcaster was going to set the best standards around data privacy, which could have an impact on how healthcare records and personalisation is handled in the future.

Ms Fagan said the BBC was already investigating ways of increasing transparency around user data.

She added: “We don’t collect any more data than we should. Our research and development team are in the early stages of looking at how we can continue to give you more control over your data as new technologies emerge, such as personal data stores.”

However, the BBC’S position as a tech innovator – after launching the iplayer streaming service before the invention of Netflix – has been called into question amid funding pressure from the Government’s decision to freeze the licence.

Nadine Dorries, the Culture Secretary, recently announced an independent review of the broadcaster’s funding model after the current charter finishes in 2027.

The freeze has prompted the BBC to shut television channels BBC Four and CBBC by 2025 and scrap 1,000 jobs, as it faces a £1.4billion shortfall.

It comes as the BBC also grapples with a sharp jump in costs caused by huge demand for talent and studio space from US streaming services such as Disney and Netflix.

During a Lords committee hearing in May, Tim Davie, the BBC’S director-general, said the corporation was battling to hire tech workers because of the vast salaries offered by US tech titans.

“We are facing an extreme change in technology,” Mr Davie said.