About this talk

In this talk, Emily Genatowski will explore her approach of ‘looking back to move forward’: using moments from history to bring perspective and grounding to the field of AI--one often shaped by sensationalism and futuristic thinking. By tracing throughlines such as resistance, reform, restructuring and redesign, she will show how historical context can help us make better sense of current debates around AI. Drawing on examples from labour, infrastructure, mobility and human dignity, the session will consider how earlier social and technological shifts can illuminate present-day discussions about automation, robotics and academic life. This is a talk for anyone interested in AI, history, digital scholarship and the value of perspective in a fast-moving field. You do not need to attend the workshop on 27 May to benefit from this talk. Emily Genatowski is a PhD candidate in Digital Humanities at the University of Vienna, with degrees from Harvard and Columbia. A former lead at Google Arts & Culture, she now conducts experimental research and writes on AI, ethics, regulation, and society.

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