AI what's up? Hype, doom, or something else?

Many warn that AI will cause an apocalypse. I don't.

We will examine the problematic history of this idea, debunk prominent claims, and show how AI doom narratives connect to hypercapitalism & neocolonialism.

While there is a lot of talk about how AI could, a) solve all our problems, or b) wipe us out completely, there is surprisingly little information about where these ideologies come from.

When we trace back these narratives, we quickly find problematic assumptions rooted in eugenics, science fiction tropes, white saviorism, colonialism, and male-dominated tech culture.

This event will give you a historical and philosophical context for AI doom and salvation narratives. We will look at concepts like (super)intelligence" and "existential risk" and examine the hidden baggage they carry. We'll also explore how these framings serve particular power structures and whose voices are centered or erased.

We tackle what makes these narratives so compelling, and, finally, look at alternative frameworks to think about AI that don't reproduce colonial or eugenic logic.

The event is part of Forskningens Døgn. Forskningens Døgn is a nationwide science festival that takes place from April 20 to April 26