Edinburgh Critical AI in Education Network

Over the past three years, the rise of so-called generative artificial intelligence (gAI) technologies has caused something of a crisis of confidence for universities. Within many institutions, there is an ‘adapt or die’ mantra where the inevitability of this innovation means we must adopt and integrate these technologies into our working lives. For academics, professional service staff and students who are unsure about these technologies, resisting adopting them can leave one being seen as a luddite, unwilling to adapt to change or clinging on to “old ways” of working.

Yet, what are these technologies? Can we assume that they represent a social good for the University? What is the wider context that creates these technologies? What is the relationship between these technologies and the rise of the far right? Do they represent ‘replacement labour’ in a context of mass redundancies during this crisis of the UK University?

The aim of this event is to provide a critical space for interested staff and students who want to understand what these technologies represent and to organise for a more critical voice on AI-adoption within the University.

Preliminary schedule:

· Introduction: Contextualising gAI uptake - why now?

· Academic and professional service labour & gAI: Is ChatGPT going to take my job?

· Knowledge, Culture Wars and the University: What does it mean to outsource ways of knowing to Silicon Valley?

· Developing a manifesto for education (facilitated group discussion)

Speakers (confirmed so far):

Sheena MacRae, Independent Researcher

Karen Gregory, University of Edinburgh

Huw Davies, University of Edinburgh

Lauren Fraser, Queen Margraret University

Meenakshi Mani, University of Edinburgh

Ben Williamson, University of Edinburgh

Gavin Maclean, Edinburgh Napier University