The Data Fix with Dr. Mél Hogan

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.

Listen to the data center's hum with your feet first... on this episode, Trent Wintermeier and I discuss what it means to absorb sound through the body and "hear" vibrations with and through your limbs and ears. We discuss what this means for folks living near data centers, especially in places imagined as kinds of sacrifice zones. Recorded Oct 9, 2024. Release Nov 11, 2024.Trent Wintermeierhttps://trentwintermeier.cargo.siteAffective Footprintshttps://www.heliotropejournal.net/helio/affective-footprints Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I have a conversation with Remmelt Ellen from AI Safety Camp. We discuss AI safety and his 44-page book Artifical Bodies outlining AI harms from the perspective of someone really grappling with the ethics, hype, and harms of the industry and beyond. Recorded Oct 4, 2024. Released Oct 28, 2024.Artificial Bodies https://workflowy.com/s/artificial-bodies/znDloerXJaEQvKF6#/846236876b45AI Safety Camphttps://www.aisafety.camp/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lisa Yin Han, an Assistant Professor of Media Studies at Pitzer College and author of "Deepwater Alchemy," delves into eco-media and the relationship between technology and deep-sea mining. She discusses the environmental impacts of plumes in mining and critiques how media shapes our perceptions of oceanic spaces. Exploring the intersection of extraction, representation, and marine life, Han advocates for a radical rethinking of human relationships with the sea, urging integrated approaches to protect vulnerable ecosystems.

Joana Chicau is a designer, researcher and coder, with a background in choreography and performance. We had a truly delightful chat about how dance can make you understand data differently. Recorded Sept 13, 2024. Released Sept 23, 2024.Websitehttps://joanachicau.com/about.html Publicationshttps://researchers.arts.ac.uk/2383-joana-chicau/publications Choreographing Youhttps://re-coding.technology/choreographing-you/From Individual Discomfort to Collective Solidarity: Choreographic Exploration of Extractivist Technology https://www.researchgate.net/publication/378139744_From_Individual_Discomfort_to_Collective_Solidarity_Choreographic_Exploration_of_Extractivist_Technology Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.