In this new world of artificial intelligence and robotics, a government agency is directing its efforts in a controversial direction. New federal guidance is apparently progressing US technology by altering race and gender speech codes.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology is a government agency whose sole purpose is to help with American technological advancement. Now its recently published “Inclusive Language Guidance” dictates how scientists can speak in reports.
The guidance includes avoiding phrases like “blacklist” or “whitelist” for racial reasons, and using gendered terms for objects, like male and female connectors.
The guidance also advises against identifying people by gender “unless necessary for comprehension.”
The attempt to change language in reports is likely to be seen as a waste of taxpayer money, especially as the U.S. lags behind other nations in certain technological aspects.