Session on Reflections on AI and Memory Studies

The Department of English and Digital Humanities hosted an insightful presentation on the topic Reflections on AI and Memory Studies by Kareena and Krishna, students of MA English with Digital Humanities. The session, held on campus, was a unique opportunity to delve into their enriching experience at IIT Madras, where they explored the intersection of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and memory studies.

The speakers began the session by providing a comprehensive introduction to the topic, outlining their focus on the functionalities of AI, its various types, and the ethical challenges posed by its widespread adoption. They highlighted how AI systems are categorized into Narrow AI, General AI, and Superintelligent AI, with Narrow AI being the most prevalent in today’s world. Their explanation of how AI operates—through algorithms designed to analyze data, make predictions, and adapt over time—set the stage for discussing the nuanced issues in this field. One of the central themes of their presentation was AI bias and ethical challenges. They illustrated this with examples such as the COMPAS Recidivism Algorithm, a risk assessment tool used in the U.S. criminal justice system. The algorithm, while intended to predict the likelihood of recidivism, has been criticized for perpetuating racial biases, raising questions about the fairness and transparency of AI in high-stakes decision-making. 

Another case study they presented was the UK’s A-level algorithm controversy. During the COVID-19 pandemic, an AI-based grading system was employed to predict students' final grades, which led to widespread public outrage. The algorithm disproportionately downgraded students from disadvantaged backgrounds, highlighting how socio-economic biases can be encoded into AI systems. The Amazon hiring fiasco was yet another compelling example shared by Kareena and Krishna. Amazon’s AI-powered recruitment tool, trained on historical hiring data, exhibited gender bias by favoring male candidates, underscoring the critical need for diverse and inclusive datasets.

The speakers also addressed the darker implications of AI technologies, such as deep fakes. They explained how deep fake technology can create hyper-realistic fake videos, posing significant ethical concerns related to misinformation, privacy breaches, and malicious uses. These examples sparked a lively discussion among attendees about the broader societal impacts of AI. The presentation then shifted focus to the intersection of AI and memory studies. Kareena and Krishna discussed how AI tools can be employed in memory studies to analyze and preserve cultural and historical artifacts. They introduced the audience to Google’s Teachable Machine, an accessible platform that enables users to train simple machine learning models. Using this tool, they demonstrated how AI can be leveraged for educational purposes and community engagement in memory studies, bridging the gap between technology and humanities.

Throughout the session, the speakers emphasized the importance of ethical considerations in AI development and deployment. They called for greater accountability, transparency, and interdisciplinary collaboration to address the challenges posed by AI systems. The presentation concluded with an interactive Q&A session, where students and faculty discussed topics such as misinformation, privacy, and the future of AI in the humanities. The speakers offered a thought-provoking exploration of AI’s capabilities and limitations, particularly in the context of memory studies. Their insights into the ethical dilemmas and societal implications of AI sparked meaningful conversations and inspired attendees to think critically about the role of technology in shaping our future. The event was a testament to the value of interdisciplinary research and the potential of young scholars to contribute to emerging fields.