Lianne Potter
- keynote
Never Neutral: AI Development, Past, Present and Future in Anthropological Research
Learn from Lianne" AI, for me, is not just a tool. I think it's a cultural force. And that's despite the technological advances that are going on, there is something that remains constant, and that is the human. And this talk is about those humans and the cultures they inhabit"
We seldom discuss the early builders of this AI landscape, however, there is much we can learn and understand from the grandparents of AI to help us understand how we got to what we know as AI today, and to understand where we might be going with AI in the future as a culturally driven species.
This talk examines the pioneering work of anthropologist Diana Forsythe, who immersed herself in the world of AI research during the 1980s and 1990s. Forsythe's groundbreaking research revealed AI as a deeply sociocultural product, shaped by the values, biases, and power structures of its creators. This talk is a tribute to the impactful and still pertinent work of Forsythe who tragically died in 1997 during an accident. As a modern anthropologist, I will share my journey through the evolving landscape of AI, examining how Forsythe's insights resonate with contemporary challenges and opportunities.
Together, we will explore her key findings, including the power dynamics within AI research, the underrepresentation of women, and the critical role of social and cultural factors in shaping AI development. By revisiting Forsythe's work, we will uncover enduring lessons about the human element in AI creation. Ultimately, I argue that understanding the past is essential for building a more responsible and equitable AI future.
Together we will explore:
- Never Neutral: Forsythe challenged the notion that technology is neutral and how neglecting the social and the cultural leads to shelfware
- Power in the Lab: We explore her analysis of the power researchers and technology developers have when their attitudes and perspectives profoundly influence technological design
- The disappearing women in the social world of computing (a problem that doesn’t seem to age well!)
And ...
- What can we learn from the builders of AI in the 1980s and 1990s, to understand our contemporary AI technologists and the work they are doing today?
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Originally presented in the Keynotes - Day 2 track
About Lianne Potter
Lianne is an award-winning cyber and digital anthropologist, heading up the Security Operations function for a major UK retailer.
As a respected keynote speaker, Lianne has delivered keynote talks across the globe to share her vision for a new type of anthro-centric cybersecurity practice. She has been recognised in her field with awards such as Cybersecurity Personality of the Year, Security Leader of the Year, and Security Specialist of the Year.
Lianne has been published in many leading publications such as The Times, Raconteur, IT Pro and Computing.com, as well as contributing to the book EmTech Anthropology: Careers at the Frontline. Every Thursday Lianne draws upon her expertise, and the expertise of others, from the disciplines of anthropology, behavioural science, psychology, philosophy, and design (to name a few) on her award-winning tech podcast, Compromising Positions, to analyse how to utilise creativity and the teachings from the humanities to make technology more user friendly.
Recently her work as a digital anthropologist has been focusing on the cultural impact of artificial intelligence and how this technology challenges new social means of engagement. She was recently given a scholarship to pursue this academic interest via an MSc in AI and Data Science which she begins in September 2024.