Bias Mitigation Algorithms: Correcting Unfair AI

Bias mitigation algorithms aren't magic "un-biasing" tools; they are techniques to actively steer AI toward a defined standard of fairness. They work by modifying the data, the model's training process, or its final outputs. This is critical for high-stakes systems like hiring or loan approvals where biased outcomes cause real harm. The main footgun is thinking it's a purely technical fix; choosing a mitigation strategy means choosing one definition of fairness, often at the expense of another.