Equitable AI Audits: evaluating the evaluators in today's world

Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies have triggered substantial transformations across various sectors, yielding benefits and rasing concerns. A significant issue pertains to the unequal distribution of AI advantages among different groups, raising questions about diversity and fundamental rights. This paper proposes equity as a translational mechanism intersecting ethical, legal, and technical dimensions in AI governance. By tracing the evolution of AI regulation from corporate ethical guidelines to forthcoming legal frameworks, this paper sheds light on the growing emphasis on auditing mechanisms to mitigate bias and discrimination, distinguishing equity from the more often-used term fairness. While fairness emphasizes fair processes, equity prioritizes equitable outcomes. We argue that equity offers a value that surpasses the limitations of fairness and adopts a holistic viewpoint, providing a comprehensive framework for tackling socio-technical challenges in AI development and...