The Good Robot: Why Technology Needs Feminism

The Good Robot explores the ethical implications of AI and technology, highlighting the potential for these advances to disrupt patriarchal, colonial, and racist practices while also critiquing the ways in which they can be contained. It emphasizes the urgency of addressing feminist issues in the development of AI and technology.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 22 February 2024
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

The Good Robot is a thought-provoking book that delves into the complex relationship between feminism and technology. It explores the ethical implications of emerging AI and technological advances, raising important questions about their potential impact on our lives in the 21st century. Through the voices of leading feminist thinkers, activists, and technologists, the book offers a snapshot of key challenges, questions, and provocations in the field of feminism and technology.

While the question of whether various AI and technological advances can be ethical is not new, the embedded nature of feminist perspectives brings forth the possibility of whether these perceived "goodness" or "wrongness" might actually impact our lives in the 21st century. The book explores both the radical possibilities of technology to disrupt practices of patriarchy, colonialism, racism, and beyond, as well as provides a significant critique of how we can contain the ethical possibilities of entities we cannot predict.

In exploring unjust technological practices and engaging critical voices in the tech industry, the book brings to light existing moral issues and the potential ethical quagmires that arise. It opens a new space of discussion on digital technologies, one that insists that the future of AI is an urgent feminist issue.

One of the key themes of The Good Robot is the need for intersectionality in the study of feminism and technology. The book recognizes that the experiences and perspectives of women of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and other marginalized groups are often overlooked or marginalized in the tech industry. It calls for a more inclusive and diverse approach to technology development and adoption that takes into account the unique experiences and needs of these groups.

Another important theme of the book is the role of feminist theory in shaping the ethical and social implications of technology. The book argues that feminist theory provides a valuable framework for analyzing and challenging the power structures and biases that exist in technology and society. It encourages readers to think critically about the ways in which technology is used to perpetuate harmful practices and to work towards creating more equitable and just systems.

The Good Robot also explores the potential benefits of technology for feminist movements and organizations. It highlights the use of technology to facilitate communication, organize activism, and raise awareness about feminist issues. It also discusses the challenges of maintaining feminist values and principles in the face of technological change and the need for feminist technologists and activists to work towards creating more ethical and sustainable technologies.

In conclusion, The Good Robot is a valuable resource for anyone interested in the intersection of feminism and technology. It provides a comprehensive and thought-provoking exploration of the ethical implications of emerging AI and technological advances, as well as the potential benefits and challenges for feminist movements and organizations. By engaging with the ideas presented in this book, we can work towards creating a more just and equitable future for all.

Weight: 348g
Dimension: 156 x 234 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350399952