Putting the A back into AI

We’re in the midst one of the most significant investments in AI technology of all time, with boomers and doomers alike claiming that AGI is just around the corner. While the hype can be enticing, intoxicating or infuriating, it is important for us all to step back and remember that the algorithms that are being developed are artificial. Which means that as creators of technology, we have the agency and the responsibility to design these artificial algorithms with care. In this talk, I’ll review some of the mathematical assumptions behind key AI algorithms and I’ll introduce a map of AI mindsets. And I’ll discuss their impact on human agency, autonomy and generative drive. I’ll explain why emphasizing the “Artificial” in “Artificial Intelligence” is important, and why we, as a community, need to be advocating for more thoughtful AI design and policy.