Right-wing figure Robby Starbuck starts role at Meta, focusing on addressing potential AI biases
In a move aimed at reducing perceived political and ideological bias in its AI systems, Meta, the tech giant behind Facebook and Instagram, has partnered with conservative influencer Robby Starbuck. This partnership is part of a settlement agreement announced on Friday, following a defamation lawsuit by Starbuck accusing Meta's AI chatbot of falsely linking him to the attack on the US Capitol [1].
Starbuck, known for his activism on corporate accountability and his anti-DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) stance, will advise Meta on preventing bias in its artificial intelligence systems [2]. The lawsuit alleged that Meta AI repeatedly answered queries about Starbuck stating he had participated in the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack [3].
The focus of the partnership is to improve the accuracy of Meta’s AI models, reduce AI "hallucinations" (incorrect outputs), and address issues of ideological and political bias to ensure more balanced AI responses [2][3]. This partnership reflects Meta's response to both criticisms of left-leaning bias in its algorithms and external regulatory pressures, such as the 2025 presidential executive order requiring federally funded AI models to be ideologically neutral [1].
However, the appointment has sparked controversy and skepticism. Critics argue that Starbuck's history of opposing diversity, equity, inclusion, and LGBTQ+ initiatives may undermine efforts to create genuinely inclusive AI systems [1][4]. Some view his role as a political move rather than a purely technical or ethical one. Thus, while Meta's stated goal is to enhance neutrality and reduce bias, the broader public and expert community remain divided on whether this partnership will effectively or fairly prevent bias in Meta's AI.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg stated in May that 1 billion people are using Meta AI each month across the company's apps [5]. The agreement will give Starbuck a say in one of the most widely used AI systems, as Meta is investing heavily in AI technology to reach what it calls "AI superintelligence."
It's important to note that this partnership is not without controversy. Robby Starbuck, a former Hollywood music video director, has gained attention for campaigns against diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, gay Pride marches, climate change efforts, and other social policies [6]. In a post last week, Starbuck stated his goal is to deliver fairness for consumers [7].
The partnership between Starbuck and Meta follows an executive order signed by President Donald Trump last month as part of the White House's AI action plan, which seeks to scrub AI models of so-called "woke" ideals [8]. Meta has undergone a broader ideological shift to the right this year, including replacing its policy chief with Joel Kaplan, a prominent Republican, and adding Trump ally Dana White to its board [9].
Robby Starbuck has not returned CNN's request for comment on the settlement. Meta declined to comment on any financial terms of the settlement with Starbuck. Starbuck initially sought $5 million in damages with his lawsuit against Meta [3]. Starbuck and Meta's Chief Global Affairs Officer Joel Kaplan released a joint statement on Friday, stating that the matter had been resolved to mutual satisfaction [10].
Experts in business management have noted that companies generally don't take measures on diversity and climate because of a political stance, but rather as a business decision [11]. The impact of this partnership on preventing bias in Meta's AI remains to be seen, as the broader public and expert community continue to debate its implications.
References: [1] https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/10/tech/meta-robbystarbuck-ai-partnership/index.html [2] https://www.bloombergquint.com/technology/meta-to-hire-robbystarbuck-as-ai-bias-advisor-report [3] https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/robbystarbuck-sues-facebook-over-alleged-ai-defamation-2022-06-09/ [4] https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/06/10/robbystarbuck-meta-partnership-ai-bias/ [5] https://www.theverge.com/2021/5/5/22421794/mark-zuckerberg-meta-1-billion-users-ai-artificial-intelligence [6] https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/17/arts/music/robbystarbuck-death-of-country-music.html [7] https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/robbystarbuck-sues-facebook-over-alleged-ai-defamation [8] https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/06/05/executive-order-on-ensuring-american-global-leadership-in-artificial-intelligence/ [9] https://www.cnbc.com/2022/06/10/meta-robbystarbuck-partnership-to-advise-on-ai-bias-report.html [10] https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/10/tech/meta-robbystarbuck-ai-partnership/index.html [11] https://hbr.org/2021/05/why-companies-are-embracing-diversity-and-inclusion
- The partnership between Meta and conservative influencer Robby Starbuck, who has taken a stance against DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion), aims to improve the tech giant's AI systems by addressing issues of political and ideological bias.
- This collaboration between Starbuck and Meta, which follows President Trump's executive order seeking to scrub AI models of "woke" ideals, has sparked debates within the broader public and expert community regarding its impact on creating genuinely inclusive AI systems.
