YOU ARE THE MAYOR

Can You Choose the Right AI Systems?

A GAME ABOUT ALGORITHMIC BIAS, DATA & UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES

How It Works

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1. CHOOSE CITY

Pick from 5 real cities facing AI decisions

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2. PICK AI VENDORS

Split budgets between competing AI systems

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3. SEE CONSEQUENCES

Discover what happens after your choices

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4. NEW PROBLEMS EMERGE

See what unexpected challenges surface

LEARN ABOUT AI BIAS & ETHICS

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Training Data Matters

See how AI trained on biased historical data amplifies discrimination

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Unintended Consequences

Discover feedback loops and side effects of algorithmic decisions

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Transparency Problems

Some vendors hide their methods - what are they optimizing for?

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Who Decides What's "Fair"?

Every algorithm encodes someone's values - but whose?

What You'll Learn

NOTICE THE TRAINING DATA

Pay attention to what data each AI vendor used. Does arrest data reflect actual crime, or just police behavior?

COMPARE THE COSTS

Why is one vendor cheaper than another? What corners are they cutting? What problems might cheap AI create later?

TRACK WHO GETS HURT

Watch for which groups are affected by each choice. Can you identify patterns in who benefits and who pays?

THINK ABOUT YOUR VALUES

Would you make different choices with unlimited budget? What does your spending reveal about your priorities?

Play Tip: After you finish, compare your choices with classmates. You'll be surprised how different everyone's priorities are—and that's the point.

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Easy Mode

Standard mode: All 5 problems must be addressed with full difficulty

Takes about 10-15 minutes to complete