Weisenbaum's Computer Power and Human Reason, From Judgment to Calculation

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Weisenbaum is an outspoken critic of technology. He's trying to explain how computers work, what artificial intelligence can accomplish. The book meets with a somewhat chilly reception; he gets ostracized from the technical community. But this isn't a case of some humanist social critic voicing their critiques. This is somebody who is a computer scientist, somebody with impeccable credentials, who is sounding the alarm.

Paris Marx is joined by Zachary Loeb to discuss the history of tech criticism with a focus on Joseph Weizenbaum and Lewis Mumford, as well as why the techlash is a narrative that suits Silicon Valley.

Zachary Loeb is a PhD candidate at the University of Pennsylvania whose dissertation research looks at Y2K. Follow Zachary on Twitter as @libshipwreck, and check out his Librarian Shipwreck blog.

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Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Follow the podcast (@techwontsaveus) and host Paris Marx (@parismarx) on Twitter, and support the show on Patreon.

Find out more about Harbinger Media Network at harbingermedianetwork.com.

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