A Perspective on AI and Data in Design. Interview With Kate Crawford

In this comprehensive interview, Professor Kate Crawford discusses the complex and pervasive impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems on our global ecosystem, critically examining the material realities and extensive influence of these infrastructures. Delving into the socio-political and historical aspects of design in the context of AI, she shows that design is intrinsically linked to the consequences of capitalism, colonialism, and the concentration of power in technological systems. She challenges designers to acknowledge these connections and stimulate critical discussions about the role of design, promoting a vision where they can encourage diversity, challenge AI-driven homogenization, and question the processes of constructing meaning and decision-making in technology. Prof. Crawford posits that our relationship with technology is integral to our futures and underscores the importance of individual and collective politics in shaping these outcomes. The discussion advocates for a shift from technology-centrism to prioritizing collective planetary needs. It urges us to consider what kind of world we want to live in and what role technology should play in it.