The paper proposes a fair reinforcement learning framework to prevent healthcare disparities.
problem Unfair reinforcement learning policies in healthcare can lead to socioeconomically-disadvantaged subgroups being underprivileged.
method The paper introduces a counterfactual fairness framework and a sequential data preprocessing algorithm to achieve fair sequential decision making.
result The proposed approach greatly enhances fair access to counseling in a digital health dataset designed to reduce opioid misuse.
Novel algorithm reduces feature inclusion in online decision-making.
problem Optimizing decision-making for personalized user experiences with fairness.
method Online Batched Sequential Inclusion (OBSI) algorithm for sequential feature inclusion.
result OBSI outperforms other algorithms in terms of regret, relevance of features, and compute.
AAggFF improves federated learning fairness through sequential decision making.
problem Achieving client-level fairness in federated learning systems.
method Unified online convex optimization framework for adaptive aggregation strategies.
result AAggFF achieves better client-level fairness in federated learning.
It has recently been shown that if feedback effects of decisions are ignored, then imposing fairness constraints such as demographic parity or equality of opportunity can actually exacerbate unfairness. We propose to address this challenge by modeling feedback effects as Markov decision processes (MDPs). First, we prop…
The paper examines how slightly biasing towards under-represented groups in sequential selection processes can lead to long-term fairness.
problem Designing fair sequential decision-making processes for long-term social fairness.
method Proposes Multi-agent Fair-Greedy policy to balance score maximization and fairness.
result Proves convergence to long-term fairness target set by agents when score distributions are identical.
Proposes a sequential framework for fairness in multiple sensitive attributes.
problem Fairness in the presence of multiple sensitive attributes.
method Sequential framework using multi-marginal Wasserstein barycenters.
result Closed-form solution for sequentially fair predictor.
Societies often rely on human experts to take a wide variety of decisions affecting their members, from jail-or-release decisions taken by judges and stop-and-frisk decisions taken by police officers to accept-or-reject decisions taken by academics. In this context, each decision is taken by an expert who is typically …
Machine Learning (ML) models trained on data from multiple demographic groups can inherit representation disparity (Hashimoto et al., 2018) that may exist in the data: the model may be less favorable to groups contributing less to the training process; this in turn can degrade population retention in these groups over …
The paper tackles fair sequential decision making with biased linear bandit feedback.
problem Fair sequential decision making with biased linear bandit feedback.
method Phased elimination algorithm to correct unfair evaluations, establishing upper bounds on regret.
result The worst-case regret is smaller than O(κ∗1/3log(T)1/3T2/3). A new fairness metric for decision-making algorithms, conditioning on known fair variables.
problem Fairness issues in decision-making systems.
method Conditional fairness metric, Derivable Conditional Fairness Regularizer (DCFR), adversarial representation.
result Traditional fairness notations are special cases of the new conditional fairness notation.
DP-NCB algorithm ensures privacy and fairness in bandit decisions.
problem Achieving both privacy and fairness in bandit algorithms.
method Differentially Private Nash Confidence Bound (DP-NCB) framework.
result DP-NCB achieves optimal Nash regret while maintaining privacy.
Introduces principal fairness for fair decision-making.
problem Discrimination among similarly affected individuals.
method Uses principal stratification from causal inference.
result Explicitly accounts for decision impacts, not just protected attributes.
Unified framework for constrained online decision-making.
problem Sequential decisions under stage-wise feasibility constraints.
method Upper counterfactual confidence bounds and generalized eluder dimension.
result Principled foundation for constrained sequential decision-making.
The paper introduces a new algorithm for fair decision-making in outcome control tasks.
problem Fair and equitable automated decision-making in outcome control tasks.
method Causal analysis and optimization to ensure fairness in decision-making.
result Developed an algorithm for maximizing Y while ensuring causal fairness. New model predicts multiple outputs with missing labels.
problem Missing group labels in multi-output regression.
method Weakly-supervised multi-output model using correlated Gaussian processes.
result Model excels in multi-output settings with missing labels.
This work facilitates ensuring fairness of machine learning in the real world by decoupling fairness considerations in compound decisions. In particular, this work studies how fairness propagates through a compound decision-making processes, which we call a pipeline. Prior work in algorithmic fairness only focuses on f…
PyCFRL helps ensure fair reinforcement learning policies from offline data.
problem Ensuring fairness in reinforcement learning policies for disadvantaged groups.
method Sequential data preprocessing to learn counterfactually fair policies.
result PyCFRL implements a novel algorithm for fair RL policy learning.
Consider a binary decision making process where a single machine learning classifier replaces a multitude of humans. We raise questions about the resulting loss of diversity in the decision making process. We study the potential benefits of using random classifier ensembles instead of a single classifier in the context…
Machine learning algorithms are now frequently used in sensitive contexts that substantially affect the course of human lives, such as credit lending or criminal justice. This is driven by the idea that `objective' machines base their decisions solely on facts and remain unaffected by human cognitive biases, discrimina…
Clarifies the various fairness definitions in ML.
problem Addressing fairness in ML with different definitions.
method Analyzes and clarifies the differences between fairness definitions.
result Provides a clearer understanding of fairness definitions in ML.
As algorithms are increasingly used to make important decisions that affect human lives, ranging from social benefit assignment to predicting risk of criminal recidivism, concerns have been raised about the fairness of algorithmic decision making. Most prior works on algorithmic fairness normatively prescribe how fair …
New fairness criterion for risk-sensitive decisions in regulated industries.
problem Ensuring equitable outcomes in risk-sensitive decision-making.
method Marginal fairness for generalized distortion risk measures, two-step decision-making process.
result Ensures fairness in decision-making under risk measures, regardless of protected attributes.
The paper explores fairness in credit scoring using machine learning.
problem The lack of research on fair machine learning in credit scoring.
method Revisits statistical fairness criteria, catalogs algorithmic options, and empirically compares fairness processors.
result Multiple fairness criteria can be approximately satisfied at once, and fair processors deliver a good balance between profit and fairness.
Develops algorithm to make fair decisions from biased data.
problem Ethical concerns in machine learning fairness.
method Fair Learning through Data Preprocessing (FLAP) algorithm.
result Counterfactual fairness equivalent to conditional independence.
Examines fairness in ML for health, highlighting its importance and challenges.
problem Ensuring fairness in ML models for health to prevent health disparities.
method Reviews fairness notions in ML for health, including group, individual, and causal-based approaches.
result Discusses the importance and challenges of fairness in health-focused ML applications.
Machine learning (ML) can automate decision-making by learning to predict decisions from historical data. However, these predictors may inherit discriminatory policies from past decisions and reproduce unfair decisions. In this paper, we propose two algorithms that adjust fitted ML predictors to make them fair. We focu…
We consider the problem of how decision making can be fair when the underlying probabilistic model of the world is not known with certainty. We argue that recent notions of fairness in machine learning need to explicitly incorporate parameter uncertainty, hence we introduce the notion of {\em Bayesian fairness} as a su…
Introduces causal fairness analysis to address unfairness in AI decisions.
problem Fairness issues in AI decision-making.
method Link observed disparities to underlying causal mechanisms.
result Develops Fairness Map and Fairness Cookbook.
New approach to fairness in machine learning models using conformal prediction.
problem Fairness in machine learning models' downstream decision-making.
method Theoretical derivation and empirical evaluation of label-clustered conformal prediction.
result Label-clustered conformal prediction often provides a favorable balance between utility and substantive fairness.
In recent years, machine learning techniques have been increasingly applied in sensitive decision making processes, raising fairness concerns. Past research has shown that machine learning may reproduce and even exacerbate human bias due to biased training data or flawed model assumptions, and thus may lead to discrimi…
Paper proposes using unlabeled data for fair decision-making.
problem Bias in decision-making algorithms due to biased labels and selective labeling.
method Variational autoencoder for learning unbiased data representations from both labeled and unlabeled data.
result Method learns fair and stable decision policies with high utility.
Multiverse analysis helps prevent fairness hacking and evaluate model design decisions.
problem Downstream effects of ADM systems depend on implicit design and evaluation decisions.
method Turn implicit decisions into explicit ones, create a grid of decision combinations, compute fairness and performance metrics.
result Decisions regarding evaluation can lead to vastly different fairness metrics for the same model.
Machine learning based decision making systems are increasingly affecting humans. An individual can suffer an undesirable outcome under such decision making systems (e.g. denied credit) irrespective of whether the decision is fair or accurate. Individual recourse pertains to the problem of providing an actionable set o…
New research shows fairness in machine learning can sometimes make disadvantaged groups worse off.
problem The impact of fairness constraints in machine learning on different groups.
method Unified, population-level (Bayes) framework for binary classification under prevalent group fairness notions.
result Fairness in machine learning can lead to leveling down, making one or both groups worse off.
When an AI system interacts with multiple users, it frequently needs to make allocation decisions. For instance, a virtual agent decides whom to pay attention to in a group setting, or a factory robot selects a worker to deliver a part. Demonstrating fairness in decision making is essential for such systems to be broad…
The paper proposes Tier Balancing for dynamic fairness in decision-making.
problem Achieving long-term fairness in decision-making processes.
method Causal modeling with DAGs to investigate dynamic fairness.
result Tier Balancing is a more natural approach to achieve long-term fairness, capturing latent causal factors.
Paper proposes an ensemble approach to improve fairness in classifier decisions.
problem Improving fairness in classifier decisions to prevent bias.
method Inspired by dropout techniques, feature drop-out is used to reduce classifier dependence on sensitive features while maintaining accuracy.
result An ensemble of classifiers with reduced sensitivity to sensitive features and improved accuracy.
New research shows machine-assisted decisions can still be unfair even when the algorithm is fair.
problem Ensuring fairness in decisions made with machine-assisted human input.
method Formal model and lab experiment to analyze how machine predictions affect human decisions.
result Excluding information about protected groups from machine predictions can increase disparities.
The adoption of automated, data-driven decision making in an ever expanding range of applications has raised concerns about its potential unfairness towards certain social groups. In this context, a number of recent studies have focused on defining, detecting, and removing unfairness from data-driven decision systems. …
This thesis tackles bias in AI decision-making in banking.
problem Bias in AI-driven banking decisions.
method Understanding, mitigating, and accounting for bias in AI systems.
result Establishment of Responsible AI practices for fair decision-making.
Automated data-driven decision-making systems are ubiquitous across a wide spread of online as well as offline services. These systems, depend on sophisticated learning algorithms and available data, to optimize the service function for decision support assistance. However, there is a growing concern about the accounta…
The paper explores fairness metrics in automated decision-making and their limitations.
problem Discrimination in automated resource allocation decisions.
method Analysis of fairness metrics and distributive justice principles.
result Prominent fairness metrics fail to address egalitarian and sufficiency concerns in resource allocation.
The study examines robust decision-making in volatile financial markets, finding action robustness is more impactful than uncertainty tolerance.
problem Sequential decision making in high-frequency markets under evolving uncertainty.
method Analyzes two dimensions of robustness: uncertainty tolerance and action robustness, using simulations and empirical evidence.
result Action robustness has a larger impact on profitability than uncertainty tolerance, and excessive robustness can reduce profitability in illiquid markets.
Develops methods for finding counterfactual explanations in sequential decision making.
problem Finding counterfactual explanations for sequential decision making processes.
method Formal characterization of sequential actions and states using Markov decision processes and Gumbel-Max structural causal model. Introduces a polynomial time algorithm based on dynamic programming.
result Algorithm finds optimal counterfactual explanations for sequential decision making.
FairVIC improves fairness in neural networks without sacrificing accuracy.
problem Mitigating bias in automated decision-making systems, particularly in deep learning models.
method Integrates variance, invariance, and covariance terms into the loss function during training to abstract fairness concepts.
result Significant improvements in fairness across all tested metrics without compromising accuracy.
Was it fair that Harry was hired but not Barry? Was it fair that Pam was fired instead of Sam? How can one ensure fairness when an intelligent algorithm takes these decisions instead of a human? How can one ensure that the decisions were taken based on merit and not on protected attributes like race or sex? These are t…
The rise of algorithmic decision making led to active researches on how to define and guarantee fairness, mostly focusing on one-shot decision making. In several important applications such as hiring, however, decisions are made in multiple stage with additional information at each stage. In such cases, fairness issues…
New framework for fair online allocation in continuous time with deadlines.
problem Fair allocation under deadlines in continuous-time online learning.
method Continuous-time utility maximization, dual ascent optimization for time averages.
result Achieves ildeO(B−1/2) regret bound in the absence of statistical knowledge.