AI is not a solution to structural inequality and can overshadow the need for meaningful institutional changes.
AI-generated art on social media platforms is discouraging genuine artists from sharing their work, compromising the authenticity of the craft.
The use of AI-based language and dialect recognition technology for asylum procedures should be cautious, as it should support human judgment rather than replace it.
Deep dives
Using AI to Improve Teaching
A network of schools in New York is partnering with the American Institutes of Research to develop an AI-powered tool that can help instructional coaches analyze videos of teachers delivering lessons and offer feedback. The tool aims to improve teaching effectiveness and help educators enhance their instructional techniques.
AI Art Taking Over Crochet Communities
Crochet communities on social media platforms are being flooded with AI-generated art, which often looks hyper-realistic but lacks the true craftsmanship of real crochet projects. This trend is discouraging many genuine artists from sharing their work, as they cannot compete with AI-generated creations. The authenticity and creativity of the craft are being compromised by the influx of AI-generated content.
Virtual Students Enrolled in Classes
A university in Michigan is using virtual students named Anne and Fry to participate in hybrid classes. These virtual students interact with classmates and complete assignments, serving as a research experiment. However, concerns arise regarding privacy, surveillance, and ethical considerations, as these virtual students are essentially collecting data from their real classmates' interactions.
Smart Bidet with Voice Control
Kohler's Pure Wash E930 bidet is now equipped with voice control capabilities, allowing users to control bidet functionality using voice commands. While this may seem convenient, the inclusion of voice control raises security concerns, as personal bidet usage data can potentially be collected and shared with Amazon or Google. The introduction of AI into bidet technology also raises questions about the need for such advanced features in everyday products.
AI Cannot Replace Human Judgment in Asylum Procedures
German immigration authorities are using AI-based language and dialect recognition technology to verify the claims of asylum seekers. However, experts in linguistics express skepticism about the accuracy of such technology, highlighting the risks of relying on AI to determine someone's point of origin. Asylum procedures require a careful and nuanced assessment of individual circumstances, and AI should be used as a supporting tool, not as a substitute for human judgment.
AI-Powered Surveillance in Classrooms
Ferris State University in Michigan is collaborating with the American Institutes of Research to develop an AI-powered surveillance tool for classrooms. This tool records videos of teachers delivering lessons, which are then analyzed by instructional coaches. However, concerns arise regarding privacy, surveillance, and the potential impact on the relationship between teachers and students. Balancing technological advancements with ethical considerations is crucial in educational settings.
New year, same Bullshit Mountain. Alex and Emily are joined by feminist technosolutionism critics Eleanor Drage and Kerry McInerney to tear down the ways AI is proposed as a solution to structural inequality, including racism, ableism, and sexism -- and why this hype can occlude the need for more meaningful changes in institutions.
Dr. Eleanor Drage is a Senior Research Fellow at the Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence. Dr. Kerry McInerney is a Research Fellow at the Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence and a Research Fellow at the AI Now Institute. Together they host The Good Robot, a podcast about gender, feminism, and whether technology can be "good" in either outcomes or processes.
Watch the video version of this episode on PeerTube.
Want to see how AI might be processing video of your face during a job interview? Play with React App, a tool that Eleanor helped develop to critique AI-powered video interview tools and the 'personality insights' they offer.
