The Futures of Democracy

What does it mean to be a citizen in a democracy? What are our rights and responsibilities and how do ‘the people’ keep governments accountable? Peaceful protest is one means and a sign of healthy democracies. Where is the line between peaceful protest and civil disobedience? Did the storming of the Capitol in the USA cross that line? Executive producers and project concept: Nicole Anderson, Julian Knowles Series writers and researchers: Nicole Anderson, Julian Knowles Production, sound design, and original music: Julian Knowles Project funders/supporters: The Institute for Humanities Research, Arizona State University. PBS: Public Broadcasting Service Visit us online at https://futuresofdemocracy.com/

In this episode we continue our conversation about AI and democracy to examine the issue of government and corporate accountability and the impact this has on democracy. We also examine the ethics of personal data mining and its use for political purposes. Do we know we are being classified and scored on a daily basis? What data is being collected from us, how is it being used, and what ethical questions does this pose? What kinds of controls might there be on the use of AI and personal data? How do we re-trace the steps of AI and make it accountable? Joining us again is Kate Crawford a leading scholar of the social and political implications of artificial intelligence, along with Adam Nocek a leading philosopher of technology, and scientist and education leader Peter Schlosser. We begin by exploring what we mean by ‘intelligence’ in the context of AI, because it’s clear that the term is used uncritically in many situations. Can we really say that AI is intelligent, when in the previous episode we saw how crude and unsophisticated it can be? And what are the political, ethical and democratic consequences of AI, given its clear limits and deficiencies? Executive producers and project concept: Nicole Anderson, Julian Knowles Series writers and researchers: Nicole Anderson, Julian Knowles Production, sound design, and original music: Julian Knowles Project funders/supporters: The Institute for Humanities Research, Arizona State University. PBS: Public Broadcasting Service Visit us online at https://futuresofdemocracy.com/

In this episode we explore the impacts of artificial intelligence and automated decision making on democracy. In what ways do AI and algorithmic decision making systems impact the human rights of citizens and reinforce social inequality? Does AI shape our perceptions of the world and is this a democratic problem? What are the ethical issues and problems with AI and what accountabilities might governments have to citizens in their roll out of AI to assist in governing society? Joining us for this episode is Kate Crawford. one of the world's leading experts on the social, political, and material aspects of AI. Kate is the author of the book 'Atlas of AI' out now on Yale University Press. Executive producers and project concept: Nicole Anderson, Julian Knowles Series writers and researchers: Nicole Anderson, Julian Knowles Production, sound design, and original music: Julian Knowles Project funders/supporters: The Institute for Humanities Research, Arizona State University. PBS: Public Broadcasting Service Visit us online at https://futuresofdemocracy.com/

In this episode we look at how education intersects with modern democracies in helping us to understand the nature of democracy and its historical context. What role does our education system have in strengthening our democracy? Should democracy and citizenship be taught within our education system? Guest: Dr Michael M. Crow. President, Arizona State University. Executive producers and project concept: Nicole Anderson, Julian Knowles Series writers and researchers: Nicole Anderson, Julian Knowles Production, sound design, and original music: Julian Knowles Project funders/supporters: The Institute for Humanities Research, Arizona State University. PBS: Public Broadcasting Service Visit us online at https://futuresofdemocracy.com/

In this series introduction co-hosts Nicole Anderson and Julian Knowles define democracy and introduce the topics and big questions raised throughout the series. Catch a glimpse of what some of our experts, including Michael Crow, Kate Crawford, Peter Schlosser, Adam Nocek, Jeffrey Cohen, Evan Berry, Judit Kroo and a host of others, are saying about the recent challenges democracy faces in the 21st century. Visit us online at https://futuresofdemocracy.com/ Executive producers and project concept: Nicole Anderson, Julian Knowles Series writers and researchers: Nicole Anderson, Julian Knowles Production, sound design, and original music: Julian Knowles Project funders/supporters: The Institute for Humanities Research, Arizona State University. PBS: Public Broadcasting Service