Promoting harmful stereotypes by implying gender or ethnic identity

"A conversational agent may invoke associations that perpetuate harmful stereotypes, either by using particular identity markers in language (e.g. referring to “self” as “female”), or by more general design features (e.g. by giving the product a gendered name)."

"CAs can perpetuate harmful stereotypes by using particular identity markers in language (e.g. referring to “self” as “female”), or by more general design features (e.g. by giving the product a gendered name such as Alexa). The risk of representational harm in these cases is that the role of “assistant” is presented as inherently linked to the female gender [19, 36]. Gender or ethnicity identity markers may be implied by CA vocabulary, knowledge or vernacular [124]; product description, e.g. in one case where users could choose as virtual assistant Jake - White, Darnell - Black, Antonio - Hispanic [117]; or the CA’s explicit self-description during dialogue with the user."