Artificial Intelligence and Its Discontents: Critiques from the Social Sciences and Humanities

This book explores the basis for challenging Artificial Intelligence (AI) through a range of critical approaches from the social sciences and humanities, including posthumanism, ethics, and human values, surveillance studies, Black feminism, and more. It analyzes timely topics such as bias, language processing, responsibility, machine learning, COVID-19, bio-AI, nanotechnology, digital ethics, AI and the gig economy, and representations of AI in literature and culture.

Format: Hardback
Length: 275 pages
Publication date: 02 February 2022
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been gaining widespread infusion, investment, and implementation across the globe. However, there are significant concerns and challenges associated with AI that require careful examination. This book aims to address this question by drawing on a diverse range of critical approaches from the social sciences and humanities, including posthumanism, ethics, human values, surveillance studies, Black feminism, and other strategies for social and political resistance. The authors analyze timely topics such as bias and language processing, responsibility and machine learning, COVID-19 and AI in health technologies, bio-AI and nanotechnology, digital ethics, AI and the gig economy, representations of AI in literature and culture, and many more.

This book is designed for individuals who are currently engaged in the field of AI critique and disruption, as well as those who are involved in AI development and programming. It provides valuable insights and strategies for questioning, challenging, rejecting, reforming, and reimagining AI as it has been practiced and promoted. By exploring these critical perspectives, the book aims to contribute to a more informed and responsible approach to the development and deployment of AI technologies.

The integration of AI into various aspects of our lives has raised numerous ethical and societal concerns. One of the primary concerns is the potential for AI to perpetuate or amplify existing biases and discrimination. AI algorithms are trained on large datasets, which may contain biased information or reflect societal norms and prejudices. If these biases are not addressed during the training process, they can lead to unfair and discriminatory outcomes, such as denying employment opportunities or healthcare services to certain groups of people.

Another concern is the issue of accountability and responsibility in the development and deployment of AI. Who is responsible for the actions of AI systems? Who is liable when AI systems make mistakes or cause harm? These questions are particularly relevant in the context of autonomous vehicles, medical diagnosis, and other applications where AI systems have the potential to make life-or-death decisions.

Furthermore, there are concerns about the impact of AI on human jobs and the workforce. As AI technologies become more advanced, they may replace human workers in certain industries, leading to job loss and economic inequality. However, AI can also create new job opportunities and enhance human productivity in other sectors.

Another important consideration is the issue of transparency and explainability in AI systems. AI algorithms can be complex and difficult to understand, making it challenging for humans to assess their decisions and understand their implications. This lack of transparency can lead to trust issues and undermine the legitimacy of AI systems.

In addition to these ethical and societal concerns, there are also technical challenges associated with AI. One of the most significant challenges is the issue of machine learning and overfitting. Machine learning algorithms are trained on data, and they learn to make predictions based on that data. However, if the data is biased or limited, the algorithm may not generalize well to new situations and may produce inaccurate predictions.

Another challenge is the issue of data privacy and security. As AI systems collect and analyze large amounts of personal data, there is a risk of data breaches, unauthorized access, and misuse. This can have serious consequences for individuals' privacy and security, as well as for the reputation of organizations that rely on AI.

To address these challenges, there are several strategies that can be employed. One approach is to ensure that AI systems are trained on diverse and unbiased datasets. This can help to reduce the potential for bias and discrimination in AI systems. Additionally, it is important to develop transparent and explainable AI systems that can be understood by humans. This can help to build trust and legitimacy in AI systems and enable humans to assess their decisions and understand their implications.

Another approach is to regulate the development and deployment of AI systems. Governments and organizations can establish guidelines and regulations to ensure that AI systems are developed and deployed in a responsible and ethical manner. This can include requirements for ethical review, transparency, and accountability in the development and deployment of AI systems.

Furthermore, there is a need for ongoing research and development in the field of AI to address these challenges and improve the capabilities and benefits of AI systems. This can include research on machine learning algorithms, data privacy and security, and ethical considerations in AI.

In conclusion, the integration of AI into various aspects of our lives has raised significant concerns and challenges. However, by employing critical approaches from the social sciences and humanities, as well as by developing transparent and explainable AI systems, we can address these challenges and ensure that AI is developed and deployed in a responsible and ethical manner. This will require collaboration between researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders to ensure that AI is used to benefit society as a whole and not just a select few.

Weight: 508g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030886141
Edition number: 1st ed. 2022