“Sapere aude!” It's a Latin phrase loosely translated as “Have the courage to make use of your own intellect." This session explores the role of AI consumers and their needs for responsibility, transparency, accountability, and ethics. What are the cognitive, affective, and social competencies that AI consumers will need in order to increase the benefits and guard against the potential risks of artificial intelligence? What are the best ways for people to acquire and develop these competencies and how can they be measured and tracked over time?
DATE: September 13, 2024
FEATURED PRESENTER: Renee Hobbs
Renee Hobbs is Professor of Communication Studies at the Harrington School of Communication and Media at the University of Rhode Island and founder of the Media Education Lab. She is the author of Media Literacy in Action, 2nd edition (2025), Mind Over Media: Propaganda Education for a Digital Age (2020), and Create to Learn (2017), among other works.
Sponsored by NSERC CREATE on Responsible Development of Artificial Intelligence, Toronto Metropolitan University
BONUS: Check out how Otter.ai summarized the program:
Renee Hobbs discusses the concept of "Sapere aude" - having the courage to use one's own intellect. She traces the intellectual history of this idea from Horace to Kant to Foucault.
Hobbs examines how algorithmic personalization and repetition can shape perceptions of truth and reality, blurring the lines between information, persuasion, and entertainment.
She explores how Spotify's recommendation algorithms work, using collaborative filtering, natural language processing, and sonic profiles to personalize music suggestions.
Hobbs questions the impact of algorithmic curation on music discovery, creativity, and monetization, and emphasizes the importance of critical thinking and media literacy in navigating these digital platforms.
She expresses hope that people will engage in the "courage" of critical questioning and public dialogue to improve the impact of these technologies on society.
Outline of Key Ideas: I. The Intellectual History of "Sapere Aude"
A. Horace's concept of "shame and blame poetry"
B. Kant's call to "have the courage to use your own intellect"
C. Foucault's perspective on the limits of individual freedom
II. Algorithmic Personalization and the Blurring of Information, Persuasion, and Entertainment
A. The "Filter Bubble" and the repetition of lies
B. The impact of social conformity and emotional contagion
C. The interplay of algorithms in shaping information, persuasion, and entertainment
III. Spotify's Recommendation Algorithms
A. Collaborative filtering and the "giant matrix"
B. Natural language processing and sonic profiles
C. The personalization of music discovery and consumption
IV. The Impact of Algorithmic Curation
A. The potential devaluation of non-instantly accessible music
B. The effect on musical creativity and album narratives
C. The changing incentives for musicians and music critics
V. The Importance of Critical Thinking and Media Literacy
A. Appreciating the capabilities and limitations of digital platforms
B. Asking critical questions about effects, outcomes, and consequences
C. Engaging in public dialogue and advocacy for the common good