Countering the AI Inevitability Narrative

We believe the future of AI is a shared decision. It does not need to be left to the few. So we’re building a public interactive database of counter-inevitability initiatives.

Following the publication of the paper Resisting, Refusing, Reimagining: Charting Challenges to Narratives of AI Inevitability, we’re building a public interactive database of counter-inevitability initiatives. We had an amazing response to the paper and hope that many of you who have already been in touch will also consider submitting an initiative to our database. We want to create a comprehensive and diverse library of strategies and welcome submissions from diverse sectors and communities, covering as many different topics and issues as possible.

There are four key reasons for builiding the database:

1. We want to show people that there IS a resistance to the dominant narrative of AI inevitability: across the world, communities and individuals are fighting back in many different and creative ways.

2. We want to provide a central point where people can come to be inspired and get involved – they can find an existing movement or organisation to join, ideas to repurpose or strategies to take away.

3. We want to connect people and build solidarity in multiple ways: people can connect and reach out to each other across different disciplines, locations and strategies.

4. We want to bring in partners and collaborators: find others who are also passionate about resisting dominant AI narratives, and have their own ideas to contribute.

FAQs

Who can submit an initiative?

Anybody who is working on a initiative which:

  • is challenging the way that AI is currently being designed, developed, procured and used
  • rejects the dominant narratives of AI’s future being impossible to influence; and
  • rejects the current power dynamics inherent in the way AI is currently funded and imagined.

How do I submit an initiative?

Fill in the “Submit an initiative” form, which you can find in the navigation bar, on the homepage and in the page footer.

Which types of initiatives and resources can I submit?

We are still mapping different types of initiatives, and are keen to know how you see your project or resource, which could be a non-profit organisation, a campaign, a grassroots protest, a network, a personal mission or an activity. Is it something you are doing individually or as part of a group to resist, refuse, reclaim, or reimagine AI? You can also draw inspiration from what’s already in the database.

Are there any initiatives which are not right for the database?

We do not include projects which are predicated on the idea that AI will inevitably reach superintelligence or a singularity, as this is underpinned by the hype which leads to narratives of AI itself being inevitable. We also do not include projects which do not address power imbalances and extractive practices, and are not community informed.

I want to suggest a new strategy outside of the 4Rs (Resisting, Refusing, Reclaiming, and Reimagining). How do I do that?

Our aim was to create something all encompassing and we have researched different strategies and believe that there is more research to do on the intersections. We believe these are the areas of coming together, or solidarity, and we wish to create power in collaboration rather than factionalism. However, we are still testing the framework so would really welcome feedback to see if our mapping is robust or is missing anything. Please get in touch at research@weandai.org.

I’m interested in supporting this work. How can I get involved?

We and AI are holding the space for a movement to continue pushing back on harmful and thoughtless narratives about AI-related decisions  and futures that do not benefit humanity. As such, we invite people to join our organising team, either as organisational project partners, or individual volunteers. Please email hello@weandai.org with the subject heading “Countering AI Inevitability support”, with a brief idea of your interest, area, and any skills or organisational resources or partnerships you could offer.