Artificial Intelligence Ideology and Persuasion: Anthropological Perspectives

3.0 credits · Graduate

In this course we use anthropological perspectives to examine the ideological underpinnings of the new artificial intelligence industry now rapidly transforming society, politics, culture, and war. We will study ethnographic and other accounts of the new consequences for human judgment and autonomy, as machines are being introduced into previous human realms of social life, including by way of new techniques of mass persuasion. We will analyze the intellectual motivations of the AI industry leaders today, in the context of contemporary social thought, including the emerging scholarly and political critique and debate. Course materials will consist of readings and visuals.