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: Hardback
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, one that prioritizes the needs and experiences 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 challenges and opportunities that arise from the intersection of feminism and technology. It highlights the ways in which technology can be used to promote gender equality, empower women, and challenge patriarchal norms. It also acknowledges the potential risks and harms that can arise from the misuse or exploitation of technology, such as data privacy, surveillance, and gender-based violence.

In conclusion, The Good Robot is a valuable resource for anyone interested in the intersection of feminism and technology. It provides a comprehensive and interdisciplinary analysis of the ethical and social implications of emerging AI and technological advances, and offers a call to action for individuals and organizations to work towards creating more just and equitable systems. By embracing feminist perspectives and promoting intersectionality, we can ensure that technology is used to promote the well-being and empowerment of all individuals and communities.

Weight: 397g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350399969