Emergent Technologies – Human and Non-Human Relationships

Digital Life Institute’s AI Implications Cluster presents Emergent Technologies – Human and Non-Human Relationships.

Andrew Iliadis presents How ‘facts’ are ‘fed’ to a virtual assistant.

Media technologies now provide facts and ‘knowledge’ directly to people. Search engines, apps and virtual assistants increasingly articulate their own answers rather than directing people to lists of other sources. Semantic media are about this emerging era of meaning-making technologies (metadata, web schemas, ontologies, knowledge graphs) and how companies like Apple, Google, Facebook, Amazon, and Microsoft organize information in new media products that seek to intuitively grasp what people want to know and the actions they want to take. This talk describes some of the insidious technological ways that organizations achieve this, addresses the changing contexts of internet searches, and examines the social and political consequences of what happens when large companies become primary sources of information.

Dr. Andrew Iliadis is an Assistant Professor at Temple University in the Department of Media Studies and Production (within the Lew Klein College of Media and Communication) and serves on the faculties of the Media and Communication Doctoral Program, Cultural Analytics Graduate Certificate Program, and Science, Technology, and Society Network. He also sits on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Responsible Technology and the Executive Editorial Board of the journal Philosophy & Technology. Dr. Iliadis’ work focuses on the social implications of data science with specific interests in semantic computing (things like metadata, web schemas, knowledge graphs, applied ontologies) and embodied computing (things like wearables, embeddables, ingestibles, implantables). He conducts interviews with engineers and users, archival research, and comparative analyses of digital tools and methods for data sharing. His book, Semantic Media: Mapping Meaning on the Internet, will be released in November 2022 with Polity Press.

Annette Masterson presents Designing for love or sex: Understanding a sex robot creator’s vision.

In 2018, one of the first sex robots was released by Matt McMullen and his company, RealDoll. With artificial intelligence capabilities, robot models are meant to support and converse with users. An analysis of 38 publicity interviews with McMullen found a tendency to emphasize the companionship of sex robots while envisioning a future where integration is normalized, sexual utilities are downplayed, and a sentient robot is possible. As the creator, McMullen’s vision could shape future designs and an understanding of the emerging technology. Further implications rest on the interplay of sexual desire and deviance reflected in current legislation.

Annette Masterson is a doctoral student in the Media and Communication program at Temple University. Her research centers on sexualized and romanticized content, and the intersection of technology and entertainment. She currently analyzes the structure and advertising of humanoid sex robots. Previously at Hearts & Science, a global marketing agency, she coordinated with Warner Bros. theatrical domestic marketing departments in Los Angeles on campaigns such as Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald and Crazy Rich Asians. She holds an MA in Media Studies from the Newhouse School at Syracuse University, and a BA from Juniata College.

Hosted by Isabel Pedersen, Ontario Tech University. Director, Digital Life Institute.

Moderated by Steven Downing, Ontario Tech University. Associate Professor, Criminology.

Please email [email protected] to receive an invitation.