The Societal Implications of AI Dependence

As AI increasingly becomes an integral part of products and tools we interact with and use everyday, human reliance - and even dependence - on algorithms to complete tasks similarly increases. Because of AI’s probabilistic, opaque, and (to date) self-regulated nature, this dependence is cause for concern and carries with it significant risks to individuals. At this meetup, we will discuss the way unquestioned faith in automation (along with cognitive biases) result in humans managing AI as opposed to completing tasks independently, being surprised when things (inevitably) go wrong, and losing facility with skills that were previously a standard part of daily life. Additionally we will consider the current and potential effects of AI on society, including a devaluation of human labor, the lack of responsibility and ethics demonstrated by corporations relying on AI, and the manipulation of human motivations. With alternatives to unethical technology often existing only as a luxury, we hope to use this meetup to spark discussion about the ways in which more responsible, human-centered algorithms can become the default, rather than an expensive afterthought.

Our discussion will be based in part on the following articles (reading the articles is not necessary to attend, but is recommended for anyone who wants more background on this topic):

Bogost, I. (2017). Why Nothing Works Anymore. https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2017/02/the-singularity-in-the-toilet-stall/517551/

Ghaffary, S. (2019). Robots Aren’t Taking Warehouse Employees’ Jobs, They’re Making Their Work Harder.
https://www.vox.com/recode/2019/10/22/20925894/robots-warehouse-jobs-automation-replace-workers-amazon-report-university-illinois

Beane, M. (2018). Robots Might Not Take Your Job - But They Will Probably Make It Boring.
https://www.wired.com/story/robots-wont-take-your-jobbut-they-might-make-it-boring/

Gray, M.L. & Suri, S. (2019). Ghost Work: How to Stop Silicon Valley from Building a New Global Underclass. https://www.amazon.com/Ghost-Work-Silicon-Building-Underclass/dp/1328566242

Eubanks, V. (2018). Automating Inequality: How High-Tech Tools Profile, Police, and Punish the Poor.
https://www.amazon.com/Automating-Inequality-High-Tech-Profile-Police/dp/1250074312

Hill, K. (2019). I Cut the ‘Big Five’ Tech Giants From My Life. It Was Hell.
https://gizmodo.com/i-cut-the-big-five-tech-giants-from-my-life-it-was-hel-1831304194

Bowles, C. (2019). Ethics Should Not Be A Luxury.
https://ethical.net/ethical/opinion/ethics-should-not-be-a-luxury/