Anthropology and AI by Koycheva, Lora; VandenBroek, Angela K.; Artz, Matt;

Short description:

Anthropology and AI explores the intersection of artificial intelligence and human society through a collection of anthropological and social scientific perspectives. It will appeal to students and researchers in anthropology, science and technology studies, and digital humanities.

Long description:

 Anthropology and AI explores the complex intersection of artificial intelligence and human society through a diverse collection of anthropological and social scientific perspectives.

Artificial intelligence is rapidly accelerating and permeating the everyday lives of people around the world in ways that are full of promise, perils, and potentials. How does anthropology respond to this? This timely volume brings together twelve carefully curated chapters examining AI’s many manifestations—from machine listening and engineers’ philosophies to large language models and conversational agents. Curated with a broad humanistic and social scientific audience in mind but firmly rooted within broader anthropological and STS conversations about humanity and technology, the contributions are situated on a broad spectrum of approaches to artificial intelligence, spanning theoretical, empirical, and applied social scientific research.

Anthropology and AI will appeal to students and researchers across anthropology, science and technology studies, digital humanities, and computer science who are interested in critical perspectives on emerging technologies.

"Anthropology and AI highlights the significance of anthropology for the development of artificial intelligence throughout history. What makes this book so compelling is its theoretical and critical depth along with an emphasis on mutual co-shaping of people and technology. The book demonstrates how anthropologists can impact AI while also asking what the current technological developments mean for the future of anthropology as a discipline. An extraordinary and timely volume that should spark interest among both students and seasoned scholars of anthropology."

- Dr Tanja Ahlin, author of Calling Family: Digital Technologies and the Making of Care Collectives

"Indispensable. This volume is a powerful corrective, proving that anthropology isn't just reacting to AI, but a discipline responsible for shaping and steering it. The chapters and discussions bridge the gap between critical theory we teach and constructive action we need in practice. The editors raise an important call for anthropology to collaborate with the growth of AI, especially during a time when  development towards AGI is increasingly distant from social consequences. By reframing our role from sideline critics to "indispensable architects” of good AI, this book will be essential reading for my students and a welcome validation for my work in the field. A vital, urgent, and necessary collection."

- Prof. Farah Qureshi, Assistant Professor of Anthropology at Colby College

Table of Contents:

Introduction: An Anthropological History of AI  Part I: Contexts & Frameworks 1. A Hinge for Ethnographic Interventions in AI Systems: Interlocking the Past, Present, and Future  2. Co-Becoming with AI: An Anthropological Framework for Equitable Human-AI Systems  3. The Mythical Speech of Artificial Intelligence: The Imaginary of an Autonomous Agency  4. “The Wind Under the Door:” Pareidolia and ChatGPT as a Feared and Welcome Guest  Part II: Critical Perspectives  5. The Bullshit Problem: Re-Thinking the Epistemic Stakes of Artificial Intelligence  6. Dissecting Speech: The “Acoustic-Linguistic Divide” in Artificial Intelligence  7. AI-powered Accessibility: Inclusive Co-design and Disability Expertise in AI-Powered Workplace Accessibility  Part III: Sociotechnical Interactions  8. Navigating the Uncanny Valley: How Conversation Designers Shape Human-AI Interaction  9. Partners in Conversation  10. From Present Tense to Future (Im)perfect: The Role of Anthropology in the Future of AI  Conclusion: Editorial Forum on The Futures of Anthropology and AI