Author: Karen Hao
Publisher: MIT Technology Review
Publication Year: 2022
Summary: In the following article, Karen Hao writes the first story in a 5 part series on artificial intelligence (AI) colonialism. She lays the groundwork for the series by drawing parallels between historic colonialism in the Global South and the impact of AI in the Global South today. This introduction is easy to read while also very thoughtful, bringing in the author’s experience of honeymooning in Spain, a country that benefited greatly from European colonialism. She begins seeing the similarities between the riches of colonialism and the wealth coming from global AI development. Instead of the acquisition of land, the AI industry uses other methods to quench their desire for profit and increased reach and influence. She begins to argue that the AI industry exploits labor in the Global South. It is clear Hao aims to provide more information on the impact of AI on society, so individuals are better equipped to evaluate claims of “responsible AI” or providing “AI for everyone”. Karen Hao is writing this series for MIT Technology Review and works as a China Tech Reporter at the Wall Street Journal.