Promotion of Human Values (129)
Find narratives by ethical themes or by technologies.
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- 5 min
- MIT Technology Review
- 2019
Humans take the blame for failures of AI automated systems, protecting the integrity of the technological system and becoming a “liability sponge.” It is necessary to redefine the role of humans in sociotechnical systems.
- MIT Technology Review
- 2019
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- 5 min
- MIT Technology Review
- 2019
When algorithms mess up, the nearest human gets the blame
Humans take the blame for failures of AI automated systems, protecting the integrity of the technological system and becoming a “liability sponge.” It is necessary to redefine the role of humans in sociotechnical systems.
Should humans take the blame for algorithm-created harm? At what level (development, corporate, or personal) should this liability occur?
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- 16 min
- Kinolab
- 2004
Joel Barish recently broke up with Clementine, his girlfriend of two years, in a brutal argument. After discovering that she has used a procedure known as Lacuna to erase him from her memories, Joel decides to undergo the same procedure to forget that he ever knew Clementine. The procedure uses a brain-computer interface to map the areas of Joel’s brain that are active whenever he has a memory of Clementine, first when he is awake and using associated objects to perform active recall and then when he is asleep and subconsciously remembering her. Despite Joel’s eventual regrets and desperate attempts to remember Clementine, the procedure is successful, and he forgets her. However, Joel and Clementine reunite in the real world after their respective procedures, and as they have a fresh start, they end up listening to Clementine’s tape from before the procedure where she dissects all of the flaws of Joel and their relationship.
- Kinolab
- 2004
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- 16 min
- Kinolab
- 2004
Digital Memory Erasure and Brain Mapping
Joel Barish recently broke up with Clementine, his girlfriend of two years, in a brutal argument. After discovering that she has used a procedure known as Lacuna to erase him from her memories, Joel decides to undergo the same procedure to forget that he ever knew Clementine. The procedure uses a brain-computer interface to map the areas of Joel’s brain that are active whenever he has a memory of Clementine, first when he is awake and using associated objects to perform active recall and then when he is asleep and subconsciously remembering her. Despite Joel’s eventual regrets and desperate attempts to remember Clementine, the procedure is successful, and he forgets her. However, Joel and Clementine reunite in the real world after their respective procedures, and as they have a fresh start, they end up listening to Clementine’s tape from before the procedure where she dissects all of the flaws of Joel and their relationship.
Is it possible to completely forget and event or a person in the digital age, or is there always the possibility that traces will remain? Do digital technologies hold memories well enough, or is there something more abstract about these memories that they cannot capture? How could the technology displayed here be abused? Does pervasive digital memory of people and events ever allow us to feel completely neutral about another person, and is the a departure from the pre-digital age? Do humans have an over-reliance on digital memory? How have relationships changed with the advent of digital memory?
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind: Joel Visits Lacuna-
- 10 min
- Kinolab
- 1998
Truman, the result of an unwanted pregnancy, was the first baby to be legally adopted by a corporation. From this adoption, he grew up on the set of a reality TV show in a massive sound stage, completely unaware that he was constantly being filmed and watched by viewers all across the world. As an adult, he begins to suspect that something about his reality is very wrong, and confronts his wife about this perception. Sylvia, a love interest of Truman, affirms her stance that documenting Truman without his consent is an unethical form of entertainment since he has no agency. Ultimately, he is able to reclaim this agency by leaving the show’s set and joining the real world.
- Kinolab
- 1998
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- 10 min
- Kinolab
- 1998
Celebrity Culture, Streaming Life, and Reality Television
Truman, the result of an unwanted pregnancy, was the first baby to be legally adopted by a corporation. From this adoption, he grew up on the set of a reality TV show in a massive sound stage, completely unaware that he was constantly being filmed and watched by viewers all across the world. As an adult, he begins to suspect that something about his reality is very wrong, and confronts his wife about this perception. Sylvia, a love interest of Truman, affirms her stance that documenting Truman without his consent is an unethical form of entertainment since he has no agency. Ultimately, he is able to reclaim this agency by leaving the show’s set and joining the real world.
How is Truman’s situation somewhat mirrored in today’s digital society? How have digital technologies, particularly video streaming, perpetuated a culture of filming and sharing everyday activities? Has society passed a point where it is possible for a person to give consent before they are surveilled or filmed for entertainment purposes? How does data streaming, specifically in areas such as reality TV or influencer cultures, change the perception of reality?
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- 8 min
- Kinolab
- 1984
Rotwang, a reclusive inventor, invents a robot to replace his love Hel whom he lost to Joh Frederson. He claims that it has everything it needs to replace her except for a soul. Joh Frederson takes advantage of the robot’s design as an artificial companion to imitate Maria’s likeness, essentially creating a copy of her. The purpose of this is to infiltrate the working class and use Maria, who the workers admire, as a tool to further Joh Frederson’s agenda to suppress a laborer’s manifestation. The workers have unknowlingly placed so much trust into the robot version of Maria that they refuse to listen to Grot as a fellow worker, destroying the Heart Machine as Joh intended.
- Kinolab
- 1984
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- 8 min
- Kinolab
- 1984
Robotic Impostors
Rotwang, a reclusive inventor, invents a robot to replace his love Hel whom he lost to Joh Frederson. He claims that it has everything it needs to replace her except for a soul. Joh Frederson takes advantage of the robot’s design as an artificial companion to imitate Maria’s likeness, essentially creating a copy of her. The purpose of this is to infiltrate the working class and use Maria, who the workers admire, as a tool to further Joh Frederson’s agenda to suppress a laborer’s manifestation. The workers have unknowlingly placed so much trust into the robot version of Maria that they refuse to listen to Grot as a fellow worker, destroying the Heart Machine as Joh intended.
How can robots, even those without weapons, be used to stifle dissent and rebellion? What are the consequences to making robots in the likeness of loved ones or admirable figures? How can this be used to trick people without their knowledge? Should robots ever be able to imitate real people, especially if it is hard to give them a “soul”? What is a soul?
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- 5 min
- Kinolab
- 2015
In this Steve Jobs biopic, he is depicted as a man whose ego and pride regarding his work obscures his ability to treat others with respect and kindness. Only after seeing his daughter Lisa make art using MacPaint does Steve Jobs consider providing more financial support to her and Chrisann, his ex-wife. He initially argues that he is not beholden to this financial support, given that his company already donates computers to less privileged schools.
- Kinolab
- 2015
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- 5 min
- Kinolab
- 2015
Child Computer Use
In this Steve Jobs biopic, he is depicted as a man whose ego and pride regarding his work obscures his ability to treat others with respect and kindness. Only after seeing his daughter Lisa make art using MacPaint does Steve Jobs consider providing more financial support to her and Chrisann, his ex-wife. He initially argues that he is not beholden to this financial support, given that his company already donates computers to less privileged schools.
How can children in particular use digital technologies to express their creativity? Do digital technologies enhance or limit creativity in art? Whose responsibility is it to distribute educational technologies to under-resourced areas? Why is this action essential? How can tech monopolies, and individual tech giants, be more responsible with their massive amounts of wealth?
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- 7 min
- Kinolab
- 2017
Downsizing, the procedure which shrinks people down to only a few inches, is invented to combat environmental harm by producing less waste.
- Kinolab
- 2017
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- 7 min
- Kinolab
- 2017
Thought Experiment in Technological Environmentalism
Downsizing, the procedure which shrinks people down to only a few inches, is invented to combat environmental harm by producing less waste.
Should the technology to edit humans be created and used if it means saving the planet? How would consent factor into this? Are there any other workable technologies for aiding the environment through means such as ameliorating climate change? Should technological innovation be directed toward first identifying problems and then encompassing the most radical solution possible?