This session is facilitated by Danae Valentina
About this session
Before the session, participants should read the short story The Book of Martha by afrofuturist sci-fi writer Octavia Butler ( https://www.lexal.net/scifi/scifiction/originals/originals_archive/butler2/butler21.html ). It will be also possible to participate without reading the story since we’ll have resources to summarize the plot which is about a Black woman who is tasked by God to save humanity.
I have done academic research on this story analyzing the piece as a representation of the complexities of designing automated systems. During the session we will critically evaluate those parallels in relation to topics such as bias in AI, social bubbles and individual utopias.
By the end of the session, participants will propose their own answers to Martha’s task, taking into consideration issues as digital and social justice.
Goals of this session
Establish a creative and productive connection between literature and technological developments in order to change the dominant narratives around AI.