In our final post in the AI and Activism series, we look to help you live your values as you explore new AI tools and services. Be sure and read the other three posts in this series to understand the narratives, complexities and principles that inform this work.
- Understanding Predominant Narratives in AI
- Systemic complexities with AI
- Starting principles for the ethical use of AI
- How to be an Activist in a World of AI
The landscape of technology, and of artificial intelligence (AI), is complex, as is its impact on our communities and the environment. We spend a lot of time thinking about how our technology choices relate to our values. It is challenging to navigate the powerful adversaries of hyper-capitalist economies and, sometimes, we struggle to balance between our values and what is practical. Educators, activists and campaigners are well aware of the power dynamics at play in our society.
The narrative surrounding AI often presents a binary choice between dystopian views, which dismiss human agency and engagement, and utopian perspectives, which assume that AI is a neutral “good” that can be enjoyed equally by all. This dichotomy oversimplifies the complexities of AI’s impact on our world. The reality lies in understanding how powerful forces and predominant narratives shape technology and society.
Our Hyper-Capitalist Economy
Our participation in hyper-capitalist economies comes with a cost: we are often forced to engage with systems that are designed to maximize profits over people and planet. Companies prioritize growth and innovation over social responsibility and environmental sustainability. Governments prioritize growth over well-being.
There are people and companies that work to undermine humanist efforts and maintain control over common narratives for the sake of profit and prestige. We are told that there is no other way. We, us normies, are asked to make concessions, while the ultra-rich continue to desecrate our planet and communities. Corporations, governments, and others use disinformation campaigns, propaganda and a slew of rhetorical fallacies to discredit our concerns about AI’s impact on society and the planet. Venture capital often prioritizes short-term gains over long-term sustainability. Companies use greenwashing tactics to present themselves as environmentally responsible, but they continue to prioritise profit over sustainability.
In our modern, very capitalist society, many of our social endeavours and non-profits rely on donations or grants from corporations and risk being co-opted (in a bad way) by these same interests. The promise of funding can create a Faustian bargain, where activists must compromise their values to secure resources for the work.
We all make adjustments to be able to live with ourselves.
Finding Ways to Live Our Values
It can be daunting to look at the ways in which our societies could be better and do the work to make them so. Our place in history seems to make it more difficult than ever to live our values, at least if those values are rooted in equity and solidarity.
One way, though, to live our values is to make hard choices and stand by them. We can choose whether or not to engage with a company, service, platform or even funding. Sometimes having a red line is a great way to live up to your own morals. Worried about your environmental impact? Learn about local and independent LLMs instead of defaulting to one of Big Tech’s AI services. Irritated by the proliferation of surveillance? Prioritize AI companies that have strong privacy policies.
Another way to live and share your values is to prioritize community-led initiatives, and help local organizations take ownership of decision-making processes. Small and medium-sized organisations need help piecing together how they might use AI and other technologies. Helping others understand what you choose to advocate for can help ensure that projects align with community values rather than corporate interests.
Perhaps the most important strategy is to understand the intersectionality in activism. We need international cooperation and knowledge sharing between climate justice, digital rights, and other justice movements. By working together, we can pool our resources and expertise to create more effective solutions for the challenges posed by AI.
Remember your power
We are surrounded by powerful forces that make activism for better, more ethical and sustainable AI difficult, but that was always the case. Activism is, at its heart, a rejection of the status quo. AI presents us with just another complex landscape that requires us to remember our own agency.
It has never been easy to be an activist and it has always been essential to recognize the power dynamics at play. When considering AI’s impact on society, acknowledge complexities and work together. We can create positive change in our communities and advocate for responsible AI development that prioritizes people and planet over profits.
Learn more about Harnessing AI for Environmental Justice and Digital Campaigning.
Technology has changed so much about our world. Now, AI is changing things again and at hyperspeed. We work to understand its potential implications for our communities, learners and programmes. Do you need help with AI Literacies, strategy, or storytelling? Get in touch!