In this engaging discussion, Dan McQuillan, a senior lecturer in Critical AI and author of "Resisting AI," delves into the troubling advancements of AI in the UK, particularly under the Starmer government. He critiques the environmental and societal impacts of AI, urging for a radical 'decomputing' approach to foster communities free from tech dependency. The conversation highlights how collective action and local governance can empower individuals, emphasizing the need for care and solidarity over technological domination.
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Core AI: Neural Networks & Scale
AI is often poorly defined but neural networks and transformers are core to its current form.
Large language models have scaled AI to unprecedented levels, embedding AGI ideology into public imagination.
insights INSIGHT
UK Government's Dangerous AI Faith
UK government views AI as an economic growth engine and geopolitical strength.
Their belief in AI is more dangerous than previous approaches because they are true believers, not just opportunists.
insights INSIGHT
AI Lacks Popular Support
Public is ambivalent or fatigued about AI; it lacks popular support.
AI concentrates power oligarchically and increases precarity, undermining collective power to resist it.
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An Anti-fascist Approach to Artificial Intelligence
Dan McQuillan
In this book, Dan McQuillan analyzes AI's deep learning technology and its political effects, highlighting the need to resist AI as it currently exists and restructure it to prioritize the common good. He advocates for an anti-fascist approach to AI, replacing exclusions with caring and proposing people’s councils as a mechanism for restructuring AI through mutual aid. The book is academically rigorous yet accessible, aiming to challenge the social logic of AI by reasserting the importance of collective freedom and human values.
On this episode of the Anti-Dystopians, Alina Utrata talks to Dan McQuillan, a senior lecturer in Critical AI at Goldsmiths University and the author of "Resisting AI: An Anti-Fascist Approach to Artificial Intelligence.” They talk about the state of AI adoption in the UK since our last conversation (spoiler alert: it’s bad), why the Starmer government so obsessed with AI, how AI is harming the environment and the planet and papering over the degradation of public services, infrastructure and community. Most notably, they discuss Dan’s concept of ‘decomputing’ and how communities can resist the adoption of AI to build communities of care — and why we should just abolish AI.
For a complete reading list from the episode, check out the Anti-Dystopians substack at bit.ly/3kuGM5X.
You can follow Alina Utrata on Bluesky at @alinau27.bsky.social
All episodes of the Anti-Dystopians are hosted and produced by Alina Utrata and are freely available to all listeners. To support the production of the show, subscribe to the newsletter at bit.ly/3kuGM5X.
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