Critical AI

about CAIL

On this page are some resources for Critical AI Literacy (CAIL) from my perspective. Also see: the project homepage and this press release on our work.

As we say here, CAIL is:

an umbrella for all the prerequisite knowledge required to have an expert-level critical perspective, such as to tell apart nonsense hype from true theoretical computer scientific claims (see our project website). For example, the idea that human-like systems are a sensible or possible goal is the result of circular reasoning and anthropomorphism. Such kinds of realisations are possible only when one is educated on the principles behind AI that stem from the intersection of computer and cognitive science, but cannot be learned if interference from the technology industry is unimpeded. Unarguably, rejection of this nonsense is also possible through other means, but in our context our AI students and colleagues are often already ensnared by uncritical computationalist ideology. We have the expertise to fix that, but not always the institutional support.

CAIL also has the goal to repatriate university technological infrastructure and protect our students and selves from deskilling — as we explain here:

Within just a few years, AI has turbocharged the spread of bullshit and falsehoods. It is not able to produce actual, qualitative academic work, despite the claims of some in the AI industry. As researchers, as universities, we should be clearer about pushing back against these false claims by the AI industry. We are told that AI is inevitable, that we must adapt or be left behind. But universities are not tech companies. Our role is to foster critical thinking, not to follow industry trends uncritically.
See more at — and please cite — the preprint here:

Here is a wonderfully done interview by Kent Anderson and Joy Moore, where we got to speak at length on these topics:

In general, have a look at the various resources here, such as the blog posts and preprints and published papers to understand our various perspectives.

blogs

research

allies & resources

Here are some related academics' websites (feel free to contact me to add more):

activism & posters

sign the Open Letter here!

 Colleagues and I have written and published: Open Letter: Stop the Uncritical Adoption of AI Technologies in Academia.

Below are some posters to use to attract attention to more critical thinking about AI: Download them as PDFs here. The QR code points to: Against the Uncritical Adoption of 'AI' Technologies in Academia.

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