In 2020, a new batch of Roomba with cameras and sensors caught a woman in the bathroom while she was minding her own business (among many other occasions). Anyway, the images are over around the world through social networks. How could this happen? The truth is not that the robot posted the images, but that it questioned AI training systems and, above all, everyone’s privacy.

According to the account in MIT technical review, the images were not taken by a human, but by development versions of the iRobot Roomba J7 robot. They were then sent to Scale AI, a startup that hires employees from around the world to label audio, photo and video data used to train artificial intelligence. And from there they were anywhere.

Logically, iRobot, recently bought by Amazon, was aware of the problem and, in statements to the aforementioned media outlet, confirmed that these images were taken by their Roomba in 2020. However, all images were taken “Custom designed robots with hardware and software modifications that are not and have never been in iRobot consumer products for purchase”. The problem was not in the Robot itself, but in the human factor, which was responsible for learning the algorithm that is now used for its intelligent vacuum cleaners:

Image: MIT Tech Review

Invasion of privacy due to the human factor

Total, MIT technical review received 15 particularly embarrassing images that violate privacy. But in its presentation, the company confirmed that it has trained its AI using more than 2 million images from AI scale and an as yet unknown amount with other data collection platforms. However, it should be borne in mind that the point is not that the robots took pictures without consent, since the “protagonists” of the images were actively involved in these test programs.

However, it was not clear if a person should view these images, mainly for privacy reasons. And definitely do not remove them from your site. As many as the participants in the development program agreed to participate in various tests.

According to iRobot, this should never have happened. And the company has ended its relationship with the service provider who leaked the images, is actively investigating the matter and as confirmed in MIT technical review They are taking steps to help prevent a similar leak from any service provider in the future.”

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Source: Hiper Textual

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