Kate Crawford on “Atlas of AI: Power, Politics, and the Planetary Costs of Artificial Intelligence”

The second iteration of the Thinking Machines series will expand on the themes and conversations presented in the exhibition “Uncanny Valley: Being Human in the Age of AI”. Join us for the first out of the three part programming series that explores the ethical questions and public discourse around AI.
Hear Dr.Kate Crawford as she discusses the themes of her book, “The Atlas of AI: Power, Politics, and the Planetary Costs of Artificial Intelligence”, which explore the hidden costs of artificial intelligence, from natural resources and energy to labor and data, and reveals how AI systems have saturated political life and depleted the planet.
The conversation will be an opportunity to hear how artificial intelligence already permeates many aspects of our lives-politics, purchasing, policing, banking, social interaction, employment-in ways that are profoundly shifting how power is concentrated across the world.
Thinking Machines is made possible with support from AppDynamics
About the Speaker
Dr. Kate Crawford is a leading scholar of the social and political implications of artificial intelligence. Her work focuses on understanding large-scale data systems, machine learning and AI in the wider contexts of history, politics, labor, and the environment. She is a Research Professor of Communication and STS at USC Annenberg, a Senior Principal Researcher at MSR-NYC, and the inaugural Visiting Chair for AI and Justice at the École Normale Supérieure. Her academic research has been published in journals such as Nature, New Media & Society, Science, Technology & Human Values and Information, Communication & Society. Crawford's work also includes collaborative projects and visual investigations. Her project Anatomy of an AI System with Vladan Joler - which maps the full lifecycle of the Amazon Echo- won the Beazley Design of the Year Award in 2019, and is in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Her collaboration with the artist Trevor Paglen, Excavating AI, won the Ayrton Prize from the British Society for the History of Science. Crawford's latest book, Atlas of AI: Power, Politics, and the Planetary Costs of Artificial Intelligence is published by Yale University Press in 2021.
This book may be purchased through the museum store:
shop.famsf.org/products/atlas...
About the Exhibition: dey.ng/uncanny-valley
In today’s AI-driven world, increasingly organized and shaped by algorithms that track, collect, and evaluate our data, the question of what it means to be human has shifted. Uncanny Valley is the first major exhibition to unpack this question through a lens of contemporary art and propose new ways of thinking about intelligence, nature, and artifice.
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[@philipk917]

Nearly if not totally immeasurably important information and research. Thank you so very much for sharing this! No questions come to mind just a dropped jaw. Never the less it's invigorating to know such intelligent people as yourselves are looking, examining and reporting what you've observed and deciphered.

[@marclafia]

A must listen. The contested spaces and colonial powers of artificial intelligence that leave an imprint on the planet. The shifting power tectonics of AI. AI mapping the planet to supersede other forms of knowing. And with this what? And of course what is knowing? Who knows? Who speaks? Thank you Kate Crawford.

[@claramarques2450]

Thank you so much for sharing these all knowledge! What a great insights

[@iker3068]

🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation:
03:23 *📚 Overview of Kate Crawford's work and introduction to "Atlas of AI"*
- Introduction to Kate Crawford's background and expertise,
- Overview of the "Atlas of AI: Power, Politics, and the Planetary Costs of Artificial Intelligence" book,
- Explanation of the themes covered in the book.
04:19 *🤖 Defining Artificial Intelligence*
- Critique of common definitions of artificial intelligence,
- Examination of different perspectives on AI, from consumer brands to technical experts,
- Discussion on the materiality and political implications of AI.
07:35 *🗺️ The Concept of an Atlas in Understanding AI*
- Explanation of the concept of an "atlas" as a framework for understanding AI,
- Exploration of different scales and perspectives in analyzing AI,
- Discussion on the relevance of maps in understanding power dynamics in AI.
11:16 *⛏️ Mining and the Life Cycle of AI*
- Overview of a collaborative project on mapping the life cycle of Amazon Echo,
- Expansion of the analysis to the entire AI industry as an extractive process,
- Introduction to the structure and motivation behind "Atlas of AI."
12:27 *🌍 The Earth: Lithium Mining and Environmental Impact*
- Examination of lithium mining in places like Nevada's Clayton Valley,
- Discussion on the environmental impact and sustainability issues surrounding lithium extraction,
- Connection between lithium mining, technological advancements, and global environmental challenges.
17:36 *🔋 Energy Consumption and Environmental Consequences*
- Analysis of the energy consumption and environmental footprint of AI models,
- Discussion on the carbon emissions and ecological consequences of large-scale language models,
- Critique of the lack of transparency in the tech industry regarding energy consumption.
24:07 *🌍 AI's Material Production and Transformation*
- AI is more than just databases and algorithms; it fundamentally transforms the Earth through various processes.
- Understanding the deep material and human roots of AI systems is vital for addressing issues like inequality and climate change.
- AI's material production involves complex supply chains and labor processes, often hidden from public view.
26:30 *🌐 Deep Material and Human Roots of AI*
- The extraction of data and natural resources for AI is often not held accountable for its full planetary costs.
- AI's material roots extend to physical sites across the globe and the devices and networks we use daily.
- Connecting environmental, labor, and data concerns is essential for creating a more just and sustainable future.
28:45 *⏳ Environmental Implications of AI and Resource Depletion*
- AI's demand for resources like lithium raises concerns about environmental degradation and resource depletion.
- The current trajectory of AI production is unsustainable, leading to significant ecological consequences.
- Without substantial shifts in production and consumption practices, the environmental impact of AI will continue to worsen.
37:43 *🎨 Artistic Engagement with AI's Social and Political Implications*
- Collaborating with artists offers a different approach to engaging with AI's societal impacts beyond academia.
- Artists can demystify complex technical systems and provoke critical reflections on their societal implications.
- Artistic engagements with AI enable broader public conversations and empower individuals to understand and critique these systems.
44:02 *🏛️ Political Focus vs. AI Ethics*
- A political focus on AI emphasizes accountability, regulation, and addressing power dynamics embedded in technical systems.
- Calls for regulation are increasing globally, but stronger measures beyond transparency are needed to curtail AI's negative impacts.
- Connecting political movements advocating for climate change, labor rights, and data protection is crucial for addressing AI's societal challenges.
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