TAMING THE MACHINES

This semester’s edition of “Taming the Machines” explores the interrelated ethical, political, and technological aspects of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in an interdisciplinary way. 

AI-driven technologies are increasingly shaping the world we live in, sparking growing ethical scrutiny. As a result, it appears more and more urgent that societies collectively address how and in what way the further development of such technologies might be tangibly influenced. And, importantly, by whom this task should be advanced and according to which agendas? Ethicists, legislators, designers, and engineers, each bring distinct expertise and capacities to the multiplicity of social issues raised by these technologies, yet the perspectives and approaches they offer may or may not be complimentary or even simultaneously realisable (let alone mutually satisfactory). Amidst the rising tensions surrounding the AI driven transformation of our shared social space, particularly in the domain of governance and regulation, this lecture series asks how we might best accompany innovation in AI and realise ethically desirable future outcomes. In other words, to delve into the questions of what it means to live well in a society that is increasingly driven by AI tools? What design and regulative choices ought we make? What social infrastructures and normative frameworks might be needed for the future handling of emerging technologies? How could or should openness to innovation be reconciled with defending and developing the ideals of a free and democratic society under the rule of law? 

To explore these and other related questions, this public lecture series invites distinguished researchers from computer science, philosophy, and political theory to present and discuss their work. To get the latest updates and details how to attend the lectures, please visit http://uhh.de/inf-eit.

program winter 2023/24

This semester’s edition of Taming the Machines explores the positive and negative impacts of artificial intelligence and digital technologies on human sociality. Artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies increasingly mediate human interactions and shape our relationships to both ourselves and others. This gives rise to an array of important ethical questions about the future of human sociality: Will AI and other digital technologies provide extended opportunities for community building or individual self-expression, or rather hinder these? How might the radical changes such technologies promise, for example in the workplace, impact these routine spaces of social interaction? Can “trust” or “authenticity”, features important to strong interpersonal relationships and the formation of tolerant societies, find support through such technologies or might they rather threaten these? Are there good reasons to think AI might promote greater diversity in social interactions or provide vital spaces for meaningful and open exchanges of differing viewpoints, or are they likely to exacerbate social isolation, exclusion, and polarization? Might such technology enable greater collective decision making? The list goes on. 

To explore these and other questions, this public lecture series invites distinguished researchers from philosophy, sociology, social science and political theory to present and discuss their work. To get the latest updates and details how to attend the lectures, please visit http://uhh.de/inf-eit.

program winter 2022/23

This semester’s edition of Taming the Machines looks at the data and design practices that surround the development of information technologies and artificial intelligence. What are the challenges of creating practices that enrich human life and society? Which practices best harvest the positive potential of data? How should we design our machines and algorithms so that they do not endanger our humanity or agency? How do societal imaginaries shape information technologies? Which positive visions for sociotechnical futures do we need?

To answer these questions, the public lecture series invites distinguished researchers to talk about the data practices and design cultures that surround the development of information technologies and artificial intelligence.

The lecture series is planned as an on-site event if the pandemic situation allows for it. To get the latest updates and details how to attend the lectures, please visit http://uhh.de/inf-eit.

program summer 2022

In recent years, machines have increasingly taken over tasks that for long only humans were able to perform. Today, algorithmic systems “diagnose” cancer, “decide” who will receive a job or a loan, and provide judges with predictions of who is likely to reoffend. More and more, human judgement is replaced with automated decision-making.

The usage of algorithmic systems can produce important benefits for people’s daily lives. Improved Big Data and AI technologies generate useful insights for researchers, politicians, or companies, and promise efficiency gains. However, the technologies also pose challenges for society and for individuals’ access to opportunities. For instance, algorithmic systems have been found to discriminate against people of color, women, or the poor. Therefore, they have the potential to increase social and economic inequalities.

Delegating decision-making to machines raises fundamental ontological and normative questions: What are the premises and implications of considering machines as agents or decision-makers? Are “decisions” taken by algorithmic systems just and how can they be justified? How to prevent or mitigate risks? And what governance measures are needed to ensure that values such as human dignity or equality are not violated? What role can transparency and openness play?

This public lecture series invites distinguished researchers to talk about the ramifications of new information and communication technologies (ICTs) and how to account for fundamental rights and values in research, design, and deployment of ICTs.

programme winter 2021/22

In the past few years, digital technologies such as speech assistants, facial recognition or digitized border control systems have sparked increased public debate. While it is claimed that such technologies contribute to human well-being, there are worries that new forms of surveillance and algorithmic discrimination will compromise civil liberties and the rule of law, plunging the world into a technocratic dystopia. Academic disciplines such as ethics and law have sought to highlight emerging problems and develop ideas on how to deal with the challenges posed by rapid digitization, Big Data, and AI. Crossing the bridge from theory to practice, scholars have also proposed concrete measures and procedures for users, developers, and legislators, seeking to play a constructive role in the development, utilization, and governance of IT.

This semester, the “Taming the Machines” public lecture series presents talks by distinguished academics whose work aims to shape the course of technological development as well as the legal and policy environments in which modern ICTs are deployed. Our guest speakers have engaged in the development of methodological frameworks for engineers, provided policy advice to regulatory bodies, worked closely with activists and NGOs, and encouraged public involvement in this critical debate.

Additional speakers may be added to the lecture series. Given the uncertainty associated with COVID-19, the lectures will be delivered in digital form. To get the latest updates and details to access the lectures, please visit http://uhh.de/inf-eit.

programme summer 2021

Witnessing the harm done by online disinformation campaigns, algorithmic discrimination, and digital surveillance, there are increasing calls for regulation of artificial intelligence and other related digital technologies. Indeed, a recent article in Nature Machine Intelligence reported that there are over 70 sets of principles and guidelines on AI Ethics issued by companies, academic institutions and public organizations around the world in the last five years, which demonstrate the urgency of proper regulation of AI and digital technologies.

The governance and regulation of AI and digital technologies, however, cannot be limited to principles and guidelines on AI Ethics. To achieve good AI governance and regulation, there is a variety of challenges: One challenge is how to put principles into practice, and how to coordinate and mediate conflicting principles in concrete contexts. Another challenge is the danger of 'ethics washing', where the implementation of governance and regulatory frameworks is delayed by 'ethical debates' or replaced by the instalment of Ethics Review Boards without clear mandate and supervisory power. There are also questions about power and legitimacy—who get to decide and on what basis the decision is justified.

These are some of the questions any satisfactory account of AI governance and regulation must address. The public lecture series invites internationally renowned scholars to explore major questions about the governance and regulation of artificial intelligence and digital technologies.

programme winter 2020/21

Witnessing the harm done by online disinformation campaigns, algorithmic discrimination, and digital surveillance, there are increasing calls for regulation of artificial intelligence and other related digital technologies. Indeed, a recent article in Nature Machine Intelligence reported that there are over 70 sets of principles and guidelines on AI Ethics issued by companies, academic institutions and public organizations around the world in the last five years, which demonstrate the urgency of proper regulation of AI and digital technologies.

The governance and regulation of AI and digital technologies, however, cannot be limited to principles and guidelines on AI Ethics. To achieve good AI governance and regulation, there is a variety of challenges: One challenge is how to put principles into practice, and how to coordinate and mediate conflicting principles in concrete contexts. Another challenge is the danger of 'ethics washing', where the implementation of governance and regulatory frameworks is delayed by 'ethical debates' or replaced by the instalment of Ethics Review Boards without clear mandate and supervisory power. There are also questions about power and legitimacy—who get to decide and on what basis the decision is justified.

These are some of the questions any satisfactory account of AI governance and regulation must address. The public lecture series invites internationally renowned scholars to explore major questions about the governance and regulation of artificial intelligence and digital technologies.

programme summer 2020

Big data, algorithms, artificial intelligence, and other digital technologies have, with little doubt, enhanced our knowledge and improved our well-being. These technologies help to make new scientific discoveries and medical breakthroughs, and they may in the future surpass—or, in some cases, have already surpassed—human performance in mundane and critical tasks from Vacuuming to the diagnosis and prognosis of diseases.

These powerful technologies, however, cannot by themselves guarantee a better future for humanity. It should also be clear that the benefits and risks of these technologies could be unevenly distributed among different races, gender groups, and social class. To maximize the benefits, and to ensure that the benefits and risks are being distributed fairly, it is essential for us to consider how to design, use, and regulate digital technologies. This public lecture series invites internationally renowned scholars to discuss major normative questions related to the design, use, and regulation of information technology for a good society.

programme winter 2019/20

Recommender systems and personalisation algorithms, search engines and chatbots, big data and machine learning: digital technologies play an increasingly prominent role in the creation, collection, organisation, and dissemination of information in our digital world. These technologies have the potential to reshape our traditional practices and concepts of knowledge, to transform processes of learning and knowing. For example, personalised recommender systems have complemented, if not replaced, testimony from friends and expert opinion. Students increasingly depend on search engines for factual knowledge in lieu of rote learning, and scientists rely on big data and machine learning for novel insights.

These powerful technologies, however, also can be—and, indeed, have been—misused and abused: fake news and “alternative facts” are spread online via chatbots and trolls; personalisation may lead to filter bubbles and echo chambers; correlations are mistaken as causation in decision-making powered by data analytics. As a result, information technologies and data practices are challenging our basic understanding of 'knowledge' and related concepts such as truth, trust, reliability. 

If societies want to ensure that these new technologies and practices are conducive to our knowledge, it is essential to examine more closely these novel knowledge practices, their underlying assumptions and implications. This public lecture series invites internationally renowned scholars to discuss major epistemic questions related to information technologies.

programme summer 2019

stream all talks on Universität Hamburg's video platform lecture2go

Powered by algorithms, music and video streaming platforms can offer us a unique personalized entertainment experience. Robots can replace humans to complete tedious and dangerous tasks. Big data analytics has become a powerful tool for scientific research. Yet, the destructive potential of information technologies should not be overlooked: software has been shown to be discriminatory, people were killed in accidents involving self-driving cars, and the now-defunct Cambridge Analytica showed that social media platforms can be exploited to spread fake news and disrupt democracy. It is therefore imperative to critically reflect upon the social, ethical, and political dimensions of information technologies. This public lecture series invites internationally renowned scholars to explore and discuss promises and perils of Information technologies for our society.

programme winter 2018/19

stream talks on Universität Hamburg's video platform lecture2go