Simon Lindgren is a Professor in Sociology at Umeå University and the director of DIGSUM, an interdisciplinary academic research centre studying the social dimensions of digital technology, and the editor-in-chief of the
Journal of Digital Social Research.
Abstract: Many current discussions appear to see the widespread adoption of AI as a given, inevitable development, and share an increasing implicit belief that AI technologies can solve anything if only we take care of the potential side effects. But AI is not magic, nor is it the solution to all of our problems. In this talk, I will elaborate on what a critical social science perspective — and theories about technological determinism and solutionism — can contribute in multi-disciplinary projects. I will introduce concepts that challenge the view that AI, if only constructed in the right way, can be a catch-all solution to a range of social problems, from unfair credit checks to racism and sexism.