Zillow Takes a Stand Against Housing Discrimination with New AI Tool
Zillow, a leading real estate company, has taken a significant step towards promoting fair housing practices with the release of their new open-source tool, the Fair Housing Classifier. This tool, powered by large language model (LLM) technology, aims to combat bias in real estate conversations and ensure compliance with fair housing laws.
In a statement, Zillow highlighted the importance of addressing bias in artificial intelligence tools, which can inadvertently perpetuate discrimination in housing. The Fair Housing Classifier is specifically designed to prevent steering, a practice that influences housing choices based on protected characteristics such as race, religion, gender, disability, and more.
Josh Weisberg, Zillow’s senior vice president of artificial intelligence, emphasized the company’s commitment to transparency and equity in real estate. By making the Fair Housing Classifier open-source, Zillow invites collaboration from civil rights, tech, and real estate sectors to improve the tool and promote fairness for consumers.
A recent survey conducted by Zillow revealed alarming rates of housing discrimination experienced by Americans, particularly among LGBTQ+ individuals, Black, Hispanic, and Latino communities. The Fair Housing Classifier is equipped to detect discriminatory language in real estate interactions, providing a safeguard against noncompliance with equal housing laws.
Michael Akinwumi, chief responsible AI officer for the National Fair Housing Alliance, commended Zillow’s initiative as a model for responsible innovation in the AI landscape. The Fair Housing Classifier’s code and framework are available on GitHub for companies and individuals to access, provide feedback, and contribute to enhancing the tool.
With the release of the Fair Housing Classifier, Zillow sets a new standard for promoting fairness and equity in the real estate industry, signaling a positive shift towards combating housing discrimination through advanced technology.