Digital Metaphors and Algorithmic Myths in the Past, Present, and Future

Digital Metaphors and Algorithmic Myths: A Double Act With Audrey Borowski and Vassilis Galanos

Are you interested in the role of mythmaking and metaphors in the contemporary and historical research and deployment of digital, algorithmic, and AI technologies? Then join AI Ethics & Society in person on Friday the 6th of June 2025, at High School Yards (room G.02) 13:00-14:30 (UK Time) and online on Teams (link below), as we hear from Dr Audrey Borowski (Edinburgh Futures Institute Visiting Fellow, Research Fellow on the 'Desirable Digitalization' project between the University of Bonn and University of Cambridge) and Dr Vassilis Galanos (Lecturer in Digital Work, Stirling Business School, University of Stirling and Edinburgh College of Art Visiting Fellow) on two different yet converging presentations followed by discussion and Q&A.

The event will be chaired by Oksana Dorofeeva (PhD researcher at the Danish Centre for Studies in Research and Research Policy, at Aarhus University, and a visiting PhD student in Science, Technology and Innovation Studies, at the University of Edinburgh). Oksana will also act as a discussant.

Introductory remarks about AI Ethics and Society will be offered by Dr SJ Bennett (Postdoctoral Research Associate in Algorithmic Societies in the Department of Geography, Durham University).

Event Outline:

13:00 - Arrivals

13:05 - Introduction - SJ Bennet

13:10 - Beyond the ‘absolutism of data’: Rethinking digital life-worlds - Audrey Borowski

13:30 - Towards Digital Metaphorology - Vassilis Galanos

13:50 - Discussion between panellists led by Oksana Dorofeeva.

14:05 - Audience Q&A

14:25 - Closing remarks

In-person attendees are more than welcome to join us for coffee/tea after the end of the event.

The event is a joint organisation between AI Ethics and Society and the Commission for the History and Philosophy of Computing’s (HaPoC) Working Group on Data Sharing.

Online link:

https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_M2FiMWZiNmQtM2NjNC00NWU5LTkyNjQtODNhYWM2MjgyMjcz%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%224e8d09f7-cc79-4ccb-9149-a4238dd17422%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22bea216dc-6ffd-4bb0-89de-838afca3b865%22%7d

Passcode: Uc2s44w5

[In case the event appears "sold out" feel free to use the above link directly or come to the venue]

Beyond the ‘absolutism of data’: Rethinking digital life-worlds

Audrey Borowski

Abstract:

Current algorithmic systems always call for more datafication and speculation, undermining previous assumptions about reality, the public sphere, and truth. Paradoxically, the more data we have, the more anxious, powerless and overwhelmed we feel. Data in its various constant recombinations, as it is constantly redeployed and fed back, has come to produce meaning, occupy our life-worlds, and shape reality. The rise of generative AI in particular - with its ability to produce language and representations - has helped precipitate the onset of new forms of ‘absolutism of data’, new forms of digital life-worlds which in some cases, power warped bespoke realities and ideology.As the thinker Hans Blumenberg shows us, digital life-worlds are possible to the extent that they remain fictional mental constructs rather than aspire to be “literalized” and compete with reality. Deployed properly, life-worlds – in which such strategies as myth, rhetoric, pensiveness and more generally the art of detour play a crucial role and provide with the constant possibility of interruption and disruption – do not make up for self-reinforcing and enclosed loops but allow for reflexibility, distance and criticality. Instead of seeking to control reality and eliminate contingency – futile tasks to begin with – they offer flexible and resilient constructs that also cultivate the human realm.Speaker Biography:Dr Audrey Borowski (EFI Visiting Fellow from April - June 2025) is a Research Fellow between the UK and Germany working on the philosophy and political thought of AI, and the author of Leibniz in His World: The Making of a Savant. She also hosts and convenes the ‘AI and Digital’ seminar series for The Philosopher, which is running until the 30th June.

Towards Digital Metaphorology

Vassilis Galanos

This is a presentation of a yet unpublished multi-authored position paper that explores “digital metaphorology,” inspired by Hans Blumenberg's work on metaphors, focusing on those emerging since the proliferation of the digital realm and analysing their origins, uses, and circulation within and beyond digital media. Fifteen researchers' views were compiled, stemming from a 2023 conference and subsequent discussions, to provide a meta-reflection on digital metaphorology's genealogy and practice. The paper’s different sections (a) define digital metaphors, tracing metaphor analysis history in media and communication, and digital media studies, (b) explore the origins and theoretical foundations of digital metaphorology, (c) map the field through widely used methods and achieved results, emphasising digital metaphor case studies. Lastly, we discuss challenges and limitations in the endeavour and future directions in the field of digital metaphorology.

Speaker Biography:Dr Vassilis Galanos is Lecturer in Digital Work at University of Stirling’s Business School. It explores the historical sociology of AI through the lens of expectations and expertise, with a particular emphasis on hype and metaphors. This paper is co-authored with Gabriele Balbi, Paolo Bory, Eric Chown, Antonija Čuvalo, Liangqi Ding, Xueying Jiang, Zlatan Krajina, Frédérik Lesage, Michele Martini, Fernando Nascimento, Brigitte Nerlich, Louis Ravn, Liam Voice, and Sally Wyatt.