Technological Determinism
What is the basic definition of technological determinism?
The belief that technology develops independently of society and shapes cultures and institutions
What type of AI excels at narrow tasks like chess or translation but lacks general intelligence?
Narrow AI
What year does Kurzweil predict AI will pass the Turing Test?
2029
Who coined the term “enchanted determinism” to describe myths about AI?
Campolo & Crawford
Is Kurzweil optimistic or pessimistic about AI’s impact?
Optimistic
Name one alternative theory to technological determinism from Science and Technology Studies (STS)
Actor-Network Theory (ANT), Social Construction of Technology (SCOT), or Feminist Technology Studies
What paradox explains why humans find some tasks easy but AI finds them very hard?
Moravec’s Paradox
What year does Kurzweil predict the Singularity will occur?
2045
Who argued intelligence is embodied, emotional, and social, not just brain computation?
Melanie Mitchell
How does Mitchell’s view of AI differ from Kurzweil’s?
Mitchell sees limits and fallacies; Kurzweil predicts inevitable exponential progress
Which two elements did MacKenzie & Wajcman identify as parts of technological determinism?
(1) Tech innovation occurs outside society
(2) Tech drives social change
What does Mitchell call the error of assuming narrow AI progress naturally leads to general AI?
The First-Step Fallacy
What three revolutions does Kurzweil say overlap to drive the Singularity?
Genetics, Nanotechnology, Robotics
What term does Evgeny Morozov use to describe the belief that tech can solve every problem?
Technological Solutionism
What does Wyatt warn happens if deterministic thinking dominates tech design?
Designers ignore user needs, leading to ineffective or harmful technologies
What type of determinism describes using AI or automation as a justification for layoffs?
Justificatory Technological Determinism
Why does Mitchell criticize the use of terms like “understand” or “read” in describing AI?
They are “wishful mnemonics” that mislead people into thinking AI has human-like intelligence
What does Kurzweil mean by “Humanity 2.0”?
Humans augmented by AI and cloud-linked brains, becoming smarter, healthier, and more creative
Which thinker predicted a “technological momentum,” where large systems shape society?
Thomas Hughes
Which major figures (besides Kurzweil) express concern about AI risks?
Stephen Hawking, Elon Musk, Bill Gates
How does Wyatt argue that technological determinism can be dangerous in political or design contexts?
It shuts down democratic accountability and leads to designs that ignore users’ needs
According to Mitchell, what crucial element of human intelligence is missing from current AI?
Common sense (embodied, social, and contextual knowledge)
How does Kurzweil view death, and how does this shape his vision of technology?
Death is a tragedy to be overcome; technology is the pathway to immortality and transcendence
Which science fiction author described technology as a “carrier bag” rather than a weapon?
Ursula K. Le Guin
Based on the readings, what are the three broad perspectives on AI’s future?
(1) Critical skepticism (Wyatt, Mitchell)
(2) Optimistic futurism (Kurzweil)
(3) Determinist public/media narratives