Fall Speaker Series to Explore Technological Shifts, Social Change

“The Futures Series: Technological Shifts and Social Change,” an interdisciplinary series of seven lectures, will explore how we can live and thrive in a world where social and technological transformation must be considered simultaneously and inseparably.

This series is a collaboration among the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, the College of Information and Computer Sciences, and the Center for Smart and Connected Society. It is also part of the ongoing SBS Social Science Matters speaker series.

While the intent of technological innovation is generally to improve people’s lives, it also has unintended consequences, both positive and negative. These high-profile speakers will address these consequences and explore how a dialogue between technology innovators and social scientists can help anticipate these risks and develop technologies and social policies to respond to them effectively.

The series is free and open to the public. But an RSVP is requested at umass.edu/sbs/ssm.

Topics and Dates:

“Artificial Intelligence for Social Good—Our Approach at the Wadhwani Institute of AI”
Presenter: P. Anandan, CEO of Wadhwani Institute of Artificial Intelligence
Thursday, Sept. 13, 12 p.m., Old Chapel

“Information and the Global Liberal Order: How the Policy Regime That America Built Was Turned Against It”
Presenter: Henry Farrell, professor of political science and international affairs at George Washington University
Friday, Oct. 5, 1 p.m., Thompson 420

“Interaction Ritual Threads: Conversational Persistence in an Online Discussion at a Large Corporation”
Presenter: Paul DiMaggio, professor of sociology at NYU
Monday, Oct. 15, 2:30 p.m. reception, talk begins at 3 p.m., Old Chapel

“AI in the Open World: Discovering Blind Spots of AI”
Presenter: Ece Kamar, senior researcher in the Adaptive Systems and Interaction Group at Microsoft Research
Friday, Oct. 26, 12 p.m., 151 Computer Science Building

“Automating Austerity—Digital Diversion in Unequal America”
Presenter: Virginia Eubanks, associate professor of political science at the University at Albany, SUNY
Thursday, Nov. 8, 12 p.m., Old Chapel

“AI for Social Good: Decision Aids for Countering Terrorism, Extinction, Homelessness”

Presenter: Milind Tambe, Helen N. and Emmett H. Jones Professor in Engineering, University of Southern California

Thursday, Nov. 15, 12 p.m., 151 Computer Science Building

“Automation, Jobs, and Shared Prosperity: What Should—and Shouldn't —We Be Worried About?”
Presenter: David Autor, American Academy of Arts and Sciences and professor of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology department of economics
Friday, Nov. 30, 12 p.m., Old Chapel