Condition and extent (dans la mesure où)

The Vocabulary of Artificial Intelligence

When discussing artificial intelligence, you will often talk about what a machine can do, such as raisonner (to reason), and potential issues introduced by le programmeur (the programmer), like le biais (bias).

The programmer created a bias by programming this robot.
Le programmeur a créé un biais en programmant ce robot.

Setting Limits with "dans la mesure où"

To say that something is true only up to a certain point or under specific circumstances, use the connector dans la mesure où (insofar as / to the extent that).

Because this connector presents a condition as a factual framework rather than a hypothetical doubt, it is always followed by the indicative mood (standard tenses like the present), never the subjunctive.

This system produces discrimination insofar as it has a lot of biases.
Ce système produit de la discrimination dans la mesure où il a beaucoup de biais.
We accept this algorithm to the extent that it respects ethics.
Nous acceptons cet algorithme dans la mesure où il respecte l'éthique.

Contrasting Humans and Machines

You can combine this structure with ethical vocabulary like la créativité (creativity), l'empathie (empathy), and moralement (morally) to express opinions on the boundaries of technology.

The robot shows a little empathy insofar as it understands people.
Le robot montre un peu d'empathie dans la mesure où il comprend les gens.
The programmer acts morally insofar as he avoids bias.
Le programmeur agit moralement dans la mesure où il évite le biais.