Transdisciplinary Queer Futures of AI

In research on AI, the most common view on the future is that AI will continue to transform our lives by changing how we work, learn, move, care for, interact with each other, and understand the world. Positive transhumanist futurologies promise that AI will result in a better life for everyone and lead to a world of increased efficiency and control, through which disease and death are overcome and AI treatment of raw big data even renders theory obsolete as they speak for themselves.

At the same time, we are increasingly aware of AI's problems regarding representations and discrimination in the underlying data sets, in the training of models, and in societal implementation. Until recently, AI research was dominated by engineers and natural scientists with few collaborations with humanities and social scientists. Yet, increasing calls for trans- and interdisciplinary approaches have been voiced. We need research that bridges disciplinary boundaries to meet the complex problems posed by AI as it increasingly becomes part of all spheres of social and private life.

In this event we bring in perspectives from researchers located in IT-fields, social science, and the humanities to together tackle the complex problem that AI poses and ask, how can Queer perspectives, theory, and methodology provide actionable insights into the kinds of human-Ai futures we want?

09.00 Registration and coffee

09.15-09.30 Welcome words by Virginia Grande

09.30-11.00 Introductory panel: Why we need queer perspectives on AI, moderated by Lina Eklund with:

• Evelina Liliequist, Associate Professor in Digital Humanities at Humlab, Umeå University, Sweden
• Virginia Grande, Postdoc in Computing Education Research at the Department of Information Technology, Uppsala University, Sweden
• Coppélie Cocq, Professor in Sámi Studies and Digital Humanities, Assistant director of Humlab, Umeå University and co-director of the Swedish national infrastructure Huminfra, Sweden
• Katie Winkle, Assistant Professor, Uppsala Social Robotics Lab, Uppsala University, Sweden
• Daniella Gáti, Lecturer in Games and Interactive Media, Creative Technologies Subject Group, University of Salford, Manchester, UK

11.00-11:15 Break

11.15-11.45:

Speaker 1: Anna Foka, Director of Centre for Digital Humanities and Social Sciences at Uppsala University: Tracing the Bias Loop. Training and Education for Professionals in the Era of Artificial Intelligence. Abstract Anna Foka

Speaker 2: Hannah Devinney, postdoctoral fellow at Tema Genus, Linköping University: Exploring potential paths for gender-expansive language technologies Abstract Hannah Devinney

11.45-13.15 Lunch and queer game demo with Lina Eklund and AI art with Begüm Serra Büyüktarakçi.

13.15-14.30 Fireside chat with keynote Jenny Sundén, Professor at Södertörn University

14.30-15.00: Coffee break

15.00-16.00: Short presentations (10-15 min) with several invited speakers selected from an open call.

Speaker 3: Sabine Weber, Postdoctoral Researcher for Fundamentals of Natural Language Processing at Otto-Friedrich-University Bamberg: NLP Needs Queerness to Escape the Mediocrity Trap Abstract Sabine Weber

Speaker 4: Vagrant Gautam, PhD candidate at Saarland University: A Call to Embrace Multidimensionality when Studying the Social Impacts of AI Abstract Vagrant Gautam

Speaker 6: Pranav A, PhD-Candidate at the University of Hamburg: Trans-inclusive Publishing Advocacy Abstract Pranav A

Speaker 7: Daniela de Angeli, lecturer at the Department of Computer Science, University of Bath: AI-Generated Art: Playing the ‘Representation’ Game Abstract Daniela de Angeli

16.00-16.30: Wrap-up with Virginia Grande and Lina Eklund

Here you can find out how to get to the venue and some extra accessibility information: https://www.uu.se/en/campus/angstrom-laboratory/visit-us

At the campus, all restrooms are gender-neutral.

If you have any questions about local arrangements or accessibility please contact Virginia Grande, virginia.grande@it.uu.se

Registration

We have reached the maximum capacity for the room, so registration is now closed. You are welcome to register for the waiting list here: https://doit.medfarm.uu.se/bin/kurt3/kurt/8876144 You will be notified by email if a spot opens up for you.