Machine Learning: What’s Good?

Is it possible to control AI? If so, how can we make it more ethical? Damien Williams, PhD, a philosopher of science, technology, and society, has some ideas. Annanda and Keisha chat Marvel movies, Ultron’s bad manners, and what lessons machine learning could take from the world of plant medicine and harm reduction.

SHOW NOTES

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• The Verge surveys Americans on who’s using AI tools and what worries them (June 2023)

• A 2020 note in the Federal Register on how US border-crossing tech expanded and evolved: first for so-called “aliens” (non-citizens) and then to other categories of immigrant or citizen

• In 2010, Peggy McIntosh shared some notes on her classic “Invisible Knapsack” article (National Seed Project on Inclusive Curriculum)

• Ethicist Shannon Vallor speaks and writes on the AI Mirror https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40UbpSoYN4k); her book with Oxford UP comes out May 2024.

• The Associated Press reports on concerns about generative AI producing disinfo during the 2024 election cycle (August 2023)

• Harry Frankfurt’s On Bullshit (2004)

• A philosophy anthology where listeners can find the Aristotle essay Keisha and Damien mentioned and many other reflections on science, tech, and human values from the fields of technical communication and science, technology and society: Philosophy of Technology: The Technological Condition: An Anthology (2nd edition)

• Annanda’s closing nod to Black poet, professor, and theorist Audre Lorde references a conference address Lorde later published in the collection, Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches (Penguin, 1984/2020)