How the bias of the past is being built into the future
Walkley Award-winning journalist Tracey Spicer exposes the next frontier of feminism. Man-Made aims to open readers’ eyes to a transformative technological shift in society and give them the tools to make positive change.
Mum, I want a
robot slave
Broadcaster Tracey Spicer had an epiphany when her young son uttered these six words.
Suddenly, her life’s work fighting inequality seemed futile. What’s the point in agitating to change the present, if bigotry is being embedded into our futures?
And so began a quest to uncover who was responsible and hold them to account.
Who is the ultimate villain? Big Tech, whose titans refuse to spend money to fix the problem? The world’s politicians, who lack the will to legislate? Or should we all be walking into a hall of mirrors and taking a good, hard look at ourselves…?
What People Are Saying
“Stunning. Illuminating. Necessary. Urgent.
Man-Made explores one of the most pressing issues of our time, the evolution of technology.
Spicer is one of Australia's finest journalists, and here she asks questions most of us are too afraid to. Ultimately, she examines how the technology around us at best ignores, and at worst, actively harms, women.
Will we watch as the ground beneath our feet shifts? Or, when confronted with what is at stake, are we prepared to do something about it?”
Jessie Stephens
Executive Editor, Mamamia
“Colorful doses of humor flourish in this well-researched book. Jam packed with examples and real-life scenarios, Tracey Spicer describes vividly and profoundly how the AI future is being built in front of our eyes. Highly recommend this down to earth book!”
Dr Joan Palmiter Bajorek
Global founder and CEO of Women in Voice
“With her usual rigour, Tracey Spicer dives into big data and uses of AI, revealing its clear biases and range of equalities, making this urgent topic easily comprehensible.”
Faith Agugu, founder of Silver Sirens
“Tracey’s brilliance in providing us with hard hitting realities, is perfectly coupled with her quick wit and humour, bringing forth invaluable history of our female tech, science, mathematics and medicine contributors and creators.”
Iyari Cevellos, Chair of Women in Technology (WiT)
“Man-Made is just the book we need as we grapple with how
AI will change our lives and our world . . .
This is a book for everyone.”
Dame Quentin Bryce, AD CVO
“‘Man-Made is a fascinating read that transforms something wholly inaccessible, elitist and terrifying into a real, tangible and suddenly very alive state of play.”
Hannah Diviney, writer, actress and advocate
“Spicer’s Man-Made is a terrifyingly insightful deep dive into the world that is AI, confirming all my fears that the racist, sexist and colonial structures and inequities of the past will creep into and be digitally embedded and codified into our futures.
Whether it’s an automatic soap dispenser based on infrared technology failing to detect darker skin, or medical AI technology inaccurately diagnosing skin cancer amongst those with darker skin, or recruitment tools showing bias towards minorities based on data fed to them, or AI bias in warfare leading to lethal consequences - AI can pose threats to the human race which are right up there with climate change, bioweapons and novel diseases.
While like the air we breathe, AI is embedded as part of our everyday life and it’s tentacles are present in all aspects of our lives, with unfettered male-led growth and lack of regulation its a one way highway to the injustices of the past and present becoming digitally entrenched with grave consequences for the human race.
But there’s hope - if we can codify and automate equality instead of inequality and to do so requires authentic diversity, equity and inclusion of marginalised groups in the top echelons of AI society so we have future that is human-made instead of man-made.”
Mariam Veiszadeh
Lawyer | Writer | Advocate
CEO Media Diversity Australia
“Coinciding with the re-emergence of artificial intelligence as a hot topic in mainstream Australia, Tracey Spicer’s book is exquisitely well timed. Filled with illuminating and entertaining case studies, data and anecdotes, Man-Made exposes just how much of our seemingly brave new world is in fact shaped by a not-so-brave old guard. A wake-up call for anyone assuming the ChatGPT future will not be designed largely for – and by – the boys’ club.”
Sarrah Le Marquand, editor-in-chief of Stellar and media commentator
“With unrelenting detail and analysis, Spicer shows how a male default is woven through every part of our lives and will shape a disastrous AI future unless we act now.”
Catherine Fox AM, author of Stop Fixing Women
“There’s plenty of books by AI academics which succeed when it comes to explaining the technology but they are less robust at foreseeing the implications. This is where Tracey Spicer’s book Man-Made truly excels.”
Robyn Foyster, Editor, Women Love Tech
“Far from creating a perfect world, Spicer reveals AI’s unwieldy capacity to replicate existing patterns of inequality. In reckoning with its potential, she forces us to consider how our past is being programmed into our future. The sincerity of this book is nothing short of heroic.”
Vivian Pham, author of The Coconut Children
“In Man-Made, journalist and author Tracey Spicer pulls back the curtain on the threats that AI poses to a future of equality and equal opportunity for all. Her six years of research, including the theories of academia, is presented in a way that is easy to digest, equal parts entertaining and frightening, but always compelling to read . . .”
Marina Go, Independent Chair, Non-executive Director and author
of Break Through: 20 success strategies for female leaders
“In her book, Man-Made, Tracey Spicer uses incisive journalism and impeccable research coupled with fierce curiosity and humour to peel back the layers of what it means for the future if machines are embedded with human bigotry such as misogyny, racism and homophobia.”
Ginger Gorman, author of Troll Hunting: Inside the world of online hate
and its human fallout
“Brilliance! Artificial intelligence has been thrust upon us by the tech bros, in their own image and – terrifyingly – with Silicon Valley vested interests. No one consulted us; the ethics and existential risks have not been thought through. Tracey Spicer bravely leads us through this conversation, the biggest of our era . . . and one we need to have fast!”
Sarah Wilson, author of This One Wild and Precious Life and First,
We Make the Beast Beautiful
“Thank God it’s funny. If it wasn’t, I’d be too scared to sleep. Tracey brings her sparkling wit and journalist’s critical eye to this Frankenstein’s tale for the digital generation. Meticulously researched, hilarious and shocking. Read this book before it’s too late.”
Juanita Phillips, ABC TV News anchor and author of A Pressure Cooker Saved My Life
“I wanted to put this book down, but simply couldn’t. I wanted to remain idealistic if not misguided about what artificial intelligence holds for women and other minorities, but again, couldn’t.
This brilliant book is as eye-opening as it is entertaining. Man Made is full of truths about the gendered impacts of AI that are uncomfortable to learn but crucial to act on. Man Made takes you on a journey from gasping in horror, to bursting out laughing. Imperatively, Tracey ensures the reader is left with one clear directive — we all must act now before it’s too late, because the point of now return with AI is getting dangerously close. “
Antoinette Lattouf, author of How To Lose Friends and Influence White People
“Tracey Spicer uses her unmistakably human voice to warn us all about the deeply sexist Frankenstein’s Monster that is modern AI. Humanity’s potential overthrow and replacement by those without morals, without heart and without soul is real – and marching toward us right now.”
Yumi Stynes, author and broadcaster
“Tracey Spicer whips away the curtain to reveal the biases behind the technology we use every day. This is a fascinating, frightening, and important book that will change the way you see the modern world.”
Kerri Sackville, author of The Secret Life of You
“In this brave new world of artificial intelligence, we are carried along by vast oceans of data. The services we receive, the news served to us, even the quality of our healthcare are increasingly shaped by how AI churns through data about us and everyone in our community. Just as the real ocean currents shift the water beneath us while remaining invisible and out of our control, so too is AI.”
Ed Santow, Co-Director of the Human Technology Institute and former
Australian Human Rights Commissioner
“Finally, a book on AI that is accessible to all people. In Man-Made Tracey Spicer, in a fabulously conversational style, delves into the history and development of artificial intelligence and maps out the absolute lack of consideration of women and minorities in the design and development of the machines that are running our world. Man-Made will put fire in the bellies of women and girls and will surely cause the tech men-folk to sit up and review the role they play. Essential reading for all people interested in the future of humanity.”
Dr Catriona Wallace, Responsible AI expert,
Founder of the Responsible Metaverse Alliance and Adj. Professor
“Knowledge is power. Man-Made is a powerful and cracking read. I picked it up and didn’t put it down until I'd finished. A stimulating read for anyone who likes having their mind blown.
Man-Made is a gripping read. Spicer nor only exposes the inherent bias of AI but illuminates ways we can minimise damage as we move forward into this complicated and exciting new world.
A riveting and myth busting look under the bonnet of the history and future of AI. Don't walk, run to buy this book.
Spicer uses her trademark curiosity, passion, empathy and fairness to thoroughly investigate the baked in bias of AI.
Human nature doesn't change but technology does. Before fully welcoming our robot overlords you need to read Man-Made.“
Catherine Deveny
Author and comedian
Services Offered.
Speaking
Tracey has been a keynote speaker/MC at hundreds of events over the past three decades. She’s also anchored news, current affairs and lifestyle programs – and hosted live broadcasts – for ABC TV, Network Ten, Channel 9, Sky News, SBS, and Radio 2UE.
Writing
Over the past 30 years, Tracey has researched, written and produced thousands of news stories, features, columns and documentaries. She is currently working on a book about #AI bias, but is available for freelance assignments.
Training
Tracey is a highly sought-after media and presentation trainer. She conducts training through the Australian Film, Television and Radio School, Women & Leadership Australia and Spicer Communications.
Tracey Spicer AM BBus(Comm) MAICD is a multiple Walkley Award winning author, journalist and broadcaster who has anchored national programs for ABC TV and radio, Network Ten and Sky News.
The inaugural national convenor of Women in Media, Tracey is one of the most sought-after keynote speakers and emcees in the region.
In 2019 she was named the NSW Premier’s Woman of the Year, accepted the Sydney Peace Prize alongside Tarana Burke for the Me Too movement, and won the national award for Excellence in Women’s Leadership through Women & Leadership Australia.
In 2018, Tracey was chosen as one of the Australian Financial Review’s 100 Women of Influence, winning the Social Enterprise and Not-For-Profit category. She was also named Agenda Setter of the Year by the website Women’s Agenda.
For her 30 years of media and charity work, Tracey has been awarded the Order of Australia.
Glows with the wisdom of a woman who has
learned essential truths
Caroline Overington
Selected works.
Get in touch.
To book Tracey for television hosting, corporate communications, mentoring, keynote speaking, emceeing, media and presentation training, or writing, please fill out the form below.