Clear-Eyed AI for the Gloomy Guy: Vote for our SXSW PanelPicker 2024

Vote by August 20 for this SXSW panel challenging the apathy of AI Gloom.

The “AI Doomer”–the cultural critic warning of sentient AI capable of destroying humanity–has become just another part of technology hype, adding to misunderstandings of all-powerful AI as already or soon to be here.

AI Doom grabs headlines but once it blows over, AI Gloom sets in. And, that’s the real danger.

It’s a vague, persistent feeling that the world will slowly and inevitably be rebuilt in service of AI, from prompt writing to productivity tracking.

This panel challenges the apathy of AI Gloom by getting specific about possibility, danger and intervention in building a future for work.

Voting is open between August 8-20.

Vote now

Takeaways

-Are we powerless to shape the future of AI in workplaces? What tools does the public have: legally, governmentally, culturally, creatively?

-What is contemporary AI actually capable of: How is it related to/different from familiar technologies and what is important about these differences?

-How do our fears about AI contribute to or work against building sensible and safe paths forward?

Speakers

-Ifeoma Ajunwa, Law Professor, Emory University
-Gina Neff, Executive Director, Minderoo Centre for Technology & Democracy at the University of Cambridge
-Deepa Seetharaman, Journalist, Wall Street Journal
-Samantha Shorey, Assistant Professor, University of Texas at Austin

Organiser

-Samantha Shorey, Assistant Professor, The University of Texas at Austin