I thought I'd start with a picture. It's not a snazzy photograph snapped by an experienced and knowledgeable sage-like photographer. Instead, it was taken by an average guy who is positioned firmly in the non-expert camp. Even those with an untrained eye would probably conclude that the photograph is grainy and the quality, quite honestly, sucks. I would have to agree. The picture above was, in fact, taken quickly on an iPhone SE because the photographer (me) foolishly left his "proper" camera charging at the hostel. However, when taking the time to concentrate analytical attention on the protagonist in this picture, I see a digital representation of the "everyday" person.
Taken in London, somewhere near Brick Lane, this photo shows a London underground worker enjoying a quick ciggy break. Cigarette in one hand (thankfully not a vape- doesn't look as cool). Phone in the other. He is a twenty-first-century worker, enjoying his well-earned downtime. This snapshot of a man with no name shows a person who plays a crucial role in sustaining the corporate playground commonly known as London. This unsung hero plays an important role in preserving the dynamism of life within the 'big smoke'. He is someone who braves the daily journey into London's dusty underworld. His purpose... ensure the London Underground is technically functional and continues to support the daily demands of busy city life.
I hope my analysis of the photo above displays that my lack of expertise does not deter me from releasing content that details things I find interesting. In this case, I am drawn to this picture because it shows a man positioned at the interface between technology and social life. Technology is shaping the way he works and the way he takes his break. The man with no man is employed to keep technology functioning. Then, when he escapes the terrible tunnels that network under London’s streets, he enjoys his break by whipping out his smartphone to unwind from his physically demanding job.
As a blogger, I aim to explore the interface between humans and technology. At this moment, we are at an unprecedented point in human history. Humans in technologically reliant societies face the real prospect of being replaced by increasingly sophisticated artificially intelligent technologies across the political, economic and socio-cultural spheres. With the rise and diffusion of innovative autonomous technologies, a large proportion of people remain heavily reliant on alien intelligence that shapes how they connect and interact with reality. This new phenomenon has become so commonplace that we barely notice how often intelligent technology influences our behaviours. Currently, in technologically reliant societies, we are subjected to breakneck technological developments that are becoming increasingly difficult to keep up with. From where I sit, it does seem like we have slept-walked into a reality where technology has seamlessly merged into our experience. Ultimately, becoming a crucial part of what it means to be a social creature.
Again, a full disclaimer is warranted. I am no expert on the complicated- and often convoluted- technicalities encompassing the concept of AI. I, therefore, lack an in-depth understanding of how artificial intelligence works. Like my 'non-expert' photography status, I am a self-described non-expert on all things AI. Furthermore, I am aware I lack fluency in Python and other programming languages. However, despite my shortcomings, I am undoubtedly attracted to the implications of AI on human beings. Similar to my approach to the photograph above, I look to focus the analytical lens (excuse the pun) on the human in sociotechnical contexts.
Moving forward, I intend to follow my interests with the goal of learning something along the way. Before I continue, I want to be clear that it is not my intention to be 'right'. Or make claims that I alone possess some higher truth about the world- there is enough of that circulating the world wide web. I'm acutely aware that, as a human, I almost certainly hold deep-rooted biases and assumptions. And, I'm aware that these biases and assumptions influence my outlook and perspective. Please accept my ideas for what they are- just ideas. Therefore, throughout this blog project, my goal is to remain authentic and not necessarily 'right'. As a writer, I am committed to uncovering what it means to be human in contemporary contexts faced with the opportunities, risks and threats associated with technological advancements.
This blog is written by a human for human viewership. So, to all you cheeky bots scanning through this site, yes I am excluding you. Sorry, I like humans. Equally, although my writing style is sometimes overly convoluted, these blog posts are not exclusively designed for academic readership. (I'm sure you've already realised I'm not especially good at writing. It's a skill I want to get better at. Please forgive any major mistakes. I'm a work in progress!) Rather than confuse oneself with jargon and rhetoric that appeals to 'experts' and 'academics', this blog will be written to satisfy my own curiosity about contemporary issues. Written to appeal to general readership I look to represent my ideas without an overbearing rhetoric and needless jargon. Hopefully, my blog is understandable and provides at least a small amount of entertainment.
The following is an account of a post-graduate student hoping to start a PhD in AI governance (commencing September 2025). Between now and then, this blog will represent a digital space where I can detail my journey. I doubt this will be a coherent body of knowledge. Instead, I expect this blog website to be a random assemblage of ideas. In what follows, I will eventually cover how AI influences key societal issues such as love, crime, death, politics, work and more.
Here goes nothing...