Your Name and Title: Reed Hepler, Digital Initiatives/Copyright Librarian and Archivist
Library, School, or Organization Name: College of Southern Idaho
Area of the World from Which You Will Present: Idaho, US
Language in Which You Will Present: English
Target Audience(s): Librarians, Educators
Short Session Description (one line): This session will present two diverging perspectives on technology in the late twentieth century, and how those perspectives relate to AI today!
Full Session Description (as long as you would like): Weizenbaum's COMPUTER POWER AND HUMAN REASON and Postman's TECHNOPOLY present some similar narratives, and some divergent arguments as well, regarding technology in education and society at large. Weizenbaum cautions that we should not let our computers make our choices for us, and Postman warns against offhand use of technology without critical analysis, as "technology does not invite a close examination of its own consequences." This was certainly true of the world in the early 1990s... and even more true today.
This session will begin with a brief discussion of the main points of Weizenbaum's book, then move on to Postman's work, and then compare and contrast their viewpoints, with opportunities for discussion in the Zoom chat throughout. This may not be the most exciting session, but it will have AT LEAST four "perspectives on AI" (Weizenbaum's, Postman's, the presenter's, and an amalgamation of all three at the end for thoroughness), in addition to the perspectives in the chat.
Websites / URLs Associated with Your Session:
https://reedhepler.substack.com/p/the-rise-of-the-machine-centered
https://reedhepler.substack.com/p/the-case-for-human-centered-use-in
Replies