>>οur approach

The development of Artificial Intelligence is undoubtedly driving profound changes in key areas of society: from automated decision-making systems and digital platforms to intelligent conversational systems, AI applications have already disrupted the way we perceive technological artifacts compared to previous industrial revolutions.

At the same time, however, the rapid pace at which AI is entering public life has created significant gaps: in its analysis and understanding by the general public, as well as in the legal and regulatory frameworks that govern it. Moreover, the narratives surrounding these machines in public discourse are contradictory. They are often portrayed as potentially all-powerful entities, creating existential risks, threatening jobs, or even humanity as a whole. In other cases, the same technologies are presented as an indisputable solution to social challenges.

About visible machines

We transcend techno-optimistic and techno-pessimistic interpretations.
We highlight the material and social dimensions of AI.

OUR APPROACH

  • We aim to transcend both techno-optimistic and techno-pessimistic readings. We consider it essential to carefully document the social impacts of AI, not merely as an aggregation of isolated news items that alternate between utopian and dystopian narratives about the technology.
  • We highlight AI as a critical technology by taking into account all its material and social dimensions. Specifically, we do not approach AI solely from the perspective of its use. The creation and maintenance of these technologies rely on a complex network of human and non-human resources, which we examine in detail:
    • Human labor (from researchers and computer engineers to data annotators).
    • Energy and environmental resources (e.g., the energy required to cool data centers, as well as the mining of minerals and rare earths used in complex computing systems such as graphics cards – GPUs).
    • Economic resources: AI plays a significant role in the aggregation and organization of financial resources in the form of investments and funding.
  • We analyze these phenomena through a multidisciplinary lens, striving to contribute to public discourse and to bridge gaps in understanding, analysis, and the formulation of policies and practices around AI.