Brookings AI Governance

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A 2025 Brookings policy commentary by an MIT economist proposing that AI fairness frameworks explicitly address 'algorithmic exclusion' — when systems fail to produce outputs for data-sparse individuals — as a harm distinct from but equal to bias.

Metadata

Importance: 52/100homepagecommentary

Summary

Catherine Tucker (MIT Sloan) introduces 'algorithmic exclusion' as a distinct class of AI harm distinct from bias: when AI systems lack sufficient data on certain individuals to produce any output at all. The paper argues this form of exclusion disproportionately affects underrepresented populations and should be incorporated into AI fairness regulations alongside bias and discrimination.

Key Points

•AI systems can fail by producing no meaningful output for certain individuals, not just biased outputs — termed 'algorithmic exclusion'.
•Algorithmic exclusion occurs when insufficient data exists on an individual for the system to return a result.
•This failure mode disproportionately harms already-marginalized or data-sparse populations.
•The proposal calls for policy and regulatory frameworks to recognize algorithmic exclusion as a formal harm equal to bias/discrimination.
•Published by Brookings Institution as part of its AI governance and economic studies research agenda.

Cited by 1 page

Page	Type	Quality
AI-Induced Enfeeblement	Risk	91.0

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#### Artificial intelligence and algorithmic exclusion

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  - [Full proposal](https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/20251204_THP_Tucker_AlgorithmicExclusion_FullProposal.pdf)
  - [Download the summary](https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/20251204_THP_Tucker_AlgorithmicExclusion_OP.pdf)
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Este Griffith


[egriffith@brookings.edu](mailto:egriffith@brookings.edu) [202-238-3088](tele:202-238-3088)

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  - [Full proposal](https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/20251204_THP_Tucker_AlgorithmicExclusion_FullProposal.pdf)
  - [Download the summary](https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/20251204_THP_Tucker_AlgorithmicExclusion_OP.pdf)
  - [See More](https://www.brookings.edu/articles/artificial-intelligence-and-algorithmic-exclusion/)

- [Contact](https://www.brookings.edu/articles/artificial-intelligence-and-algorithmic-exclusion/#)






##### Media inquiries




Este Griffith


[egriffith@brookings.edu](mailto:egriffith@brookings.edu) [202-238-3088](tele:202-238-3088)

- [Share](https://www.brookings.edu/articles/artificial-intelligence-and-algorithmic-exclusion/#)


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Commentary


# Artificial intelligence and algorithmic exclusion

##### [Catherine Tucker](https://www.brookings.edu/articles/artificial-intelligence-and-algorithmic-exclusion/)      ![tucker](https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/11/2025/Catherine-Tucker.jpg?quality=75&w=250)     Catherine TuckerSloan Distinguished Professor of Management \- MIT Sloan School of Management

December 4, 2025

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Resource ID: 6d2a9aac6117b683 | Stable ID: MjA1MjUwNj