Whose future is it anyway? Exploring the ethical battlegrounds of AI

The power dynamics and social implications of AI development

“AI is not impartial or neutral. The comfort of those with power is prioritized at the expense of the suffering of those without power.”

I’m soon delivering a lightning talk at MIT, themed, Imagination in Action, “Forging the Future of Business with AI.” My own focus as a panelist and speaker is on a crucial topic: AI governance, through the lens of design, emphasizing human-centered approaches. In this talk, I will explore the need for new ontologies to discuss the transformative technology of artificial intelligence.

Let me begin with an anecdote to illustrate this complex issue from my perspective as a long-time practitioner and design strategist, hailing from the global south, where discussions about AI often intersect with the impact on marginalized communities. I have keen interest in the space as it is often the case that Global North creates technologies that is then deployed into the Global South, with little consideration for cultural autonomy.

It is my goal to make this palatable for my own research mobilization efforts. So here goes: