AI Data Centre Townhall

On August 8th we gave a presentation, had a table, and connected with other people organizing against "AI" hype at the AI Data Centre Town Hall hosted by No AI Vancouver and SFU's Institute for the Humanities.

We shared recent research on how AI" affects students' learning and mental health, and we reiterated our call for a 2-year moratorium on AI in schools.

Other speakers and audience members shared how AI contributes to unethical mining in the Philippines and Latin America, displaces rental housing in Vancouver, undermines critical thinking in university students, and represents a political and ideological project toward unchecked technological power.

One audience member expressed, "It is so harmful to introduce to young children who are still forming relationships with friends and parents, giving them a chatbot that is designed to people-please…. We are stunting the emotional growth of children who are the future of Vancouver."

Others highlighted teens' own efforts to resist AI in their schools.

University professors expressed concern about the lack of writing and critical thinking skills among incoming undergraduate students who used AI in highschool.

As framed by the moderator, Dr. Samir Gandesha, in his opening remarks, AI compounds the phenomena of authoritarianism, racism, and misogyny, because it promotes complacency and undermines our ability to think critically, exercise judgement and imagination, which are key aspects of democracy.

SFU is organizing a public seminar series on technology and politics and they would like input from the public requesting topics and speakers. If there's someone you'd like to see or a topic you'd like covered, contact Samir Gandesha at gandesha@sfu.ca.