Theory Culture & Society Summer School in the University of Klagenfurt 2023
Theory Culture & Society Summer School in the University of Klagenfurt 2023
Date: 11-16 September 2023
Location: the University of Klagenfurt
The theme of the Scholarly Apparatus (Digital research)
Regarding artificial intelligence systems and their scholarly ‘interface’, the session begins by considering the new habitual digital practices (e.g. reading as vertical scrolling vs horizontal browsing; single entry search vs. serendipity; networked ‘genealogies’ of knowledge vs. disciplinary ‘fields’ and discourse; visual salience and cut & paste text; analogue vs. digital note-taking; the purported rise in writing, not reading etc.). The new digital interfaces entail a very different use of the body. This contrasts to the bodily practices in the physical space of the traditional scholarly apparatus with its books, library, desk, pen and paper set of affordances. Following which, critical consideration and practical exploration will be given to recent advancements in AI large language models and image diffusion, posing questions about the future of search and new media literacy; the relevance of literature reviews; and the pertinence of post-structuralist accounts of ‘authorship.’
In this session, I talked about ‘The Body Materiality and Digital Practices’
Tomoko Tamari
Abstract
Our everyday life is becoming almost impossible to accomplish without computers, numerous types of software, information technologies and artificial intelligence. Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to ‘computer systems that simulate or exhibit a specific aspect of human intelligence or intelligent behavior, such as learning, reasoning, and problem solving’ (Chen, Decary 2020). Computer programmes with artificial intelligence are usually implemented via software. Softwares are generally designed to be invisible to users, and enable effortless and intuitive control. It is, therefore, generally considered that AI itself does not have a physical body. That said, I would like to emphasise the significance roles of the physical body in order to better understand the potential implications of the future AI society.