Technologies are deeply influenced by collective beliefs, aspirations, assumptions, and values. Drawing on theoretical texts and contemporary case studies, this course provides an introduction to the complex interactions between technology, culture, and society. Students will explore ethnographic studies from a wide range of fields including medical research, social media, human-machine cyborgs, and artificial intelligence in order to recognize cultural influences on knowledge generation and technological creation. Of particular importance is developing critical thinking and analytical skills that will enable students to influence technological designs and policies. The course explores questions such as: How do we know what we know? Are we living in a post-truth era? How might technological production be decolonialized? While much discourse simply reacts to AI that already exists in the world, this course will use anthropological theories and methods to understand technological impacts to shape the way AI might be developed and implemented. This class asks: What are examples of reasonable pathways forward in technological fields? How might we change technological processes to encourage social justice?Social Science and History (SSHIS) courses develop students' critical thinking skills through the study of history and the social sciences (e.g. sociology, psychology, economics, political science, anthropology, geography), as well as through contemporary interdisciplines that draw heavily on these fields (e.g. feminist and queer studies, media studies, urban studies, ethnic studies). Subject matter in these courses contributes to students' cultural literacy while instructional materials and classroom assignments introduce basic research problems and techniques.

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