The Data Fix with Dr. Mél Hogan

Kane Murdoch, an integrity officer at Macquarie University and a contract cheating expert, dives deep into the alarming rise of academic dishonesty. He discusses how technology, especially AI, complicates the integrity landscape. The conversation explores covert marketing tactics that lure students into contract cheating and critiques the biases in current plagiarism detection tools. Kane argues for transformative change in educational practices to better support students and uphold academic standards in the face of evolving challenges.

In this conversation, Roland Meyer, a Bridge Professor in Zurich specializing in digital visual cultures, and Gillian Rose, a Human Geography Professor at Oxford, delve into the implications of AI imagery. They discuss the challenges of distinguishing real from AI-generated images and critique the colonial aspects of generative AI. The duo also highlights how sociopolitical factors shape our understanding of digital visual culture, revealing the biases embedded in these technologies and the need for deeper analysis in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

In this episode Jathan Sadowski discusses the 'risk industry' as imagined by FIRE (finance, insurance and real estate) and the asymmetries they create. Recorded January 15, 2025. Released February 10, 2025.The Mechanic and the Luddite: A Ruthless Criticism of Technology and Capitalismhttps://www.ucpress.edu/books/the-mechanic-and-the-luddite/paperThis Machine Kills: A podcast about technology and political economy https://soundcloud.com/thismachinekillspod  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Charles Logan is the go-to person to talk to about how AI is infiltrating the many layers of education, from K-12 to universities. In this conversation, we learn our lessons; we talk about what Ed Tech is, its promise and hype, and (ultimately) how to refuse it as professors and teach students to resist it as well. We also wonder about 'AI-proofing' the classroom and wether this is the way to deal with its onslaught. Recorded January 14, 2025. Released January 27, 2025.Applying the Baldwin Test to Ed-Techhttps://www.civicsoftechnology.org/blog/applying-the-baldwin-test-to-ed-techThe Captivating Creature from Educaria and Other Scary Storieshttps://www.civicsoftechnology.org/blog/the-captivating-creature-from-educaria-and-other-scary-stories Iggy Peck, Architect Is an AI Doomer and Other Things I Struggle to Talk with My Kids Abouthttps://www.civicsoftechnology.org/blog/iggy-peck-architect-is-an-ai-doomer-and-other-things-i-struggle-to-talk-with-my-kids-about Lessons on How to Practice Everyday Resistance and Refusalhttps://www.civicsoftechnology.org/blog/lessons-on-how-to-practice-everyday-resistance-and-refusal You need to talk to your kid about AI. Here are 6 things you should say.https://www.technologyreview.com/2023/09/05/1079009/you-need-to-talk-to-your-kid-about-ai-here-are-6-things-you-should-say Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode I speak with Dillon Mahmoudi and Anthony Levenda about the relationship (feedback loop) between data and urban planning. We focus on the idea of 'storying' data to make it compelling and to get past the inertia of data delivered as mere stats or numbers that have little resonance and don't (or no longer) move people to action, towards better living conditions. Recorded January 13, 2025. Released January 20, 2025. The urban-tech feedback loop: a surveillance and development data-walk in South Lake Unionhttps://dillonm.io/papers/the-urban-tech-feedback-loop/ The Amazon Warehouse https://dillonm.io/papers/the-amazon-warehouse/  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I got to speak with the brilliant Ali Alkhatib about his blog post "defining AI" -- an object, subject, metaphor, and discursive formation used amongst all of us trying to figure out how to grapple with AI's ownership, deployments, and impacts. Who gets to define AI? Is it just computer scientists? What are the stakes of having it defined only technologically? Recorded December 23, 2025. Released January 13, 2025.Ali Alkhatib (website)https://ali-alkhatib.com/Defining AIhttps://ali-alkhatib.com/blog/defining-ai Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ulises A. Mejias, a communication studies professor and co-author of "Data Grab: The New Colonialism of Big Tech," and Nick Couldry from the London School of Economics, delve into the alarming ties between data colonialism and capitalism. They discuss how modern tech mirrors historical exploitations and how big corporations perpetuate systemic discrimination. The conversation shifts toward resistance strategies, emphasizing universities as critical spaces for activism and the need to equip students with critical thinking skills against corporate influences.

In this conversation, Déborah López, an architect and associate professor, and Hadin Charbel, co-founder of Pareid, delve into art's role in confronting climate change. They share their innovative projects, merging architecture with ecological themes to engage audiences in environmental narratives. The duo discusses the significance of speculative design, the complexities of Arctic research, and the importance of integrating indigenous knowledge. Their insights into interactive storytelling and climate fiction pave the way for hopeful futures in architecture and sustainability.

Chris Gilliard, Co-director of the Critical Internet Studies Institute, dives into the repercussions of AI in universities. He warns against AI's reliance on stolen materials and its inherent biases, which contradict university values. The conversation highlights the dangers of AI diminishing writing and critical thinking skills, and raises ethical concerns about plagiarism. Gilliard also critiques the double-edged nature of AI partnerships with underserved communities, questioning genuine empowerment versus exploitation, all while emphasizing the need for authentic human expression.

In this discussion, Jennifer Holt, Chair of Film and Media Studies at UC Santa Barbara, delves into the complexities of US cloud policy and data ownership. She articulates how cloud technologies intersect with privacy, civil liberties, and regulatory challenges. Jennifer explores the historical context of data governance, emphasizing the narrative of changing power dynamics from government oversight to corporate control. The conversation also covers the implications of recent elections on Big Tech, highlighting the urgent need for accountability and informed advocacy in the digital landscape.