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Introduction: Critical Insights—Bringing the social sciences and humanities to AI

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Artificial Intelligence and Its Discontents

Part of the book series: Social and Cultural Studies of Robots and AI ((SOCUSRA))

Abstract

On what basis can we challenge Artificial Intelligence (AI)—its infusion, investment, and implementation across the globe? This question is being asked across the humanities and social sciences, as many researchers and activists are recognizing this moment within a watershed period of AI development. So far many have critiqued AI on the basis of its aims, effects, and strategies of implementation. Dissenting voices emerge both from institutions undergoing new AI implementations and as social critiques mounted by those concerned onlookers worried about who these changes will effect and how. The possibility that critiques will be overshadowed by accolades for ever more rapid AI innovations means that there has never been a more important time to collect the subjugated and subaltern reactions to the march of AI’s progress. What these voices share in common is a collective discontent with how things are now, how they have been, and where things are going with respect to AI in the present, past, and future. This book is for those who are currently working in the field of AI questioning, critique, and even disruption. It is also a book for those who aim to learn more about how to doubt, question, challenge, reject, reform, and otherwise reprise “AI” as it has been practiced and promoted.

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Acknowledgements

I thank Shunryu Garvey for his contributions to my thinking about AI criticism as a distinct field and Tyler Brunet for his comments on earlier drafts of this chapter.

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  1. Sociology, Brandon University, Brandon, MB, Canada

    Ariane Hanemaayer

  2. Centre for Research in the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK

    Ariane Hanemaayer

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Correspondence to Ariane Hanemaayer .

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    Ariane Hanemaayer

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Hanemaayer, A. (2022). Introduction: Critical Insights—Bringing the social sciences and humanities to AI. In: Hanemaayer, A. (eds) Artificial Intelligence and Its Discontents. Social and Cultural Studies of Robots and AI. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-88615-8_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-88615-8_1

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