The Color Between The Lines with Esther Dillard

Fair lending laws were designed to protect people — not algorithms. So what happens when artificial intelligence starts deciding who qualifies for a loan, a mortgage, or financial opportunity?

In this explainer episode, journalist Esther Dillard breaks down how AI is being used in lending, what federal fair lending laws actually require, and where technology is already raising serious civil rights concerns.

This episode is connected to my in-depth conversation with Alphonso David, a nationally recognized civil rights leader and legal expert, who explains how automation and algorithms can quietly reinforce discrimination — even without intent.

You’ll learn:

• How AI is being used in lending decisions today

• Why “neutral” algorithms can still produce biased outcomes

• What fair lending laws say — and where the gaps are

• Why this issue matters now, not later

🎧 This explainer sets the stage for the full interview, where we go deeper into accountability, enforcement, and what consumers — and policymakers — should be paying attention to.