Module C of the Toolkit has two primary objectives: First, to understand AI and big data within the context of a long history of interactions between technological affordances and cultural norms, values, and practices. This recognises that knowledge technologies—such as written language, the printing press, television, radio, etc.—have shaped culture and knowledge production. The relationship between technology and culture is fundamentally mutual and reciprocal. Second, building upon the first objective, Module C focuses on the particular definition of AI and big data as advanced knowledge technologies (AKTs). We analyse the past in this module to better understand the present and—potentially—to anticipate what may lie ahead.

This section analyses how different knowledge technologies impact people’s creativity. Here creativity is intended as the ability to express themselves in a way that is both truthful to what they feel and believe, as well as the power to experiment with artistic creation.

This section analyses how different knowledge technologies impact people’s attention and, consequently, their decisions regarding which information is worth storing and remembering, and which is instead forgotten or not even registered in the first place.

This section considers how people’s autonomy and free will are hindered or supported by past and present KTs. By focusing on the structural level, we will examine systemic issues such as monopolies over KTs, data extraction and colonialism, labour, and political participation.

Being a facilitator in a deliberative process using AI

Designing tech with friction

On navigating a request to use AI in a deliberative setting