Exploring our automated futures - AI, data and surveillance

Our futures are entangled with data and AI, but thinking about these automated futures goes beyond what technologies can do. It invites workers, policymakers, and leaders to reflect on how we want to live, learn, and work with AI and data systems.

This two-hour interactive event is a creative space to inform and critically explore issues and opportunities arising from digitally-mediated surveillance practices and systems which assist (or complicate) professional decision-making, strategy, and action across all sectors of human endeavour. We use ‘speculative futures’ which are informed thought experiments based on imaginative scenarios to challenge our current thinking, envision possibilities, and signal what we can attend to now. 

Work and life decisions are increasingly based on AI-generated outputs or data analytics. Have you been delighted by Spotify’s perfect song choice, pushed harder after checking your daily steps, or disagreed with how a particular data dashboard depicts you, your interests, or activities? The ‘speculative futures’ scenarios help us explore:

1. How humans are positioned in algorithmic loops.
2. Emerging ethical, political, economic, cultural, and social justice questions.
3. Articulate the work futures we would like. 

Who’s leading the event? 

• Dr Terrie Lynn Thompson and Dr Diana Miranda, Senior Lecturers (University of Stirling)
• Sarah Grayston, Learning Technologies Manager (Queen Margaret University)
• Nuria Fraile-Diaz, Digital Learning and Development Manager (The Data Lab)
• Kerry Abercrombie, Curriculum Development Officer: Digital Learning (Falkirk Council)

Professionals from a range of sectors will also co-facilitate this event. 

Who should attend the event?

The event is open to all professionals, leaders, and policy makers interested in AI-Data systems. It will be of particular interest to those employing AI-Data systems to help analyse, monitor, or evaluate and/or are simply curious about the ways in which they are ‘surveilled’ and ‘surveilling’ as workers and citizens.

AI expertise is not required. Insightful robust discussions across sectors may give participants a way to spark similar informed debate in their own contexts as activism, advocacy, or professional learning. A resource package will be available post-event to facilitate this engagement.

How to attend the event

You can come along in-person to the Iris Murdoch building at the University of Stirling or you can join the event online.

Event timings 

15:30 - in-person registration, meet and greet, and light refreshments.

15:45 - event opens for those attending online.

16:00 - event begins for everyone.

18:00 - event ends.

Book your place

Book a place at Exploring our Automated Futures event. Booking deadline is 16:00 on Friday 1 November 2024.

This event is part of the ESRC Festival of Social Science 2024.