Program/Art, Wikimedia, and the Education of Intelligent Machines (and People Too!)
- Format
Poster
- Keywords
- art as knowledge
- diversity
- artificial intelligence
- policy: scope
- When and where
- Friday 20 July, 20:00 - 21:30
- Plenary hall
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- Presenter(s)
- Topic area
- Relationship to theme
Knowledge forms
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Abstract
Art is an underrepresented form of knowledge whose unique nature allows for information transmissions that are not possible in language. There are words that cannot be translated, histories, information and ideas that currently only, and maybe best exist, in the form of art. Ubuntu is one such word. Its essence is in humanity, common recognition.
Art becomes even more important when we think about the next evolution of technology, thinking beyond just human readers and viewers, and considering the artificially intelligent machine viewers that use Wikipedia as a training ground. Through artificial intelligence, existing knowledge gaps are programmatically threaded into our future. So what would it mean for artificially intelligent machines to understand the word Ubuntu? Does the Wikimedia community understand its own role in the education of machines?
As long as existing policies such as such as Wikimedia Common‰Ûªs COM:SCOPE actively discourage the inclusion of multiple art forms as a global kind of knowledge, we‰Ûªre missing an opportunity to explore new forms of knowledge that can reach more of the world. Let‰Ûªs do better.
This has been the focus of my own Wikimedia contributions, artwork and internet activism. In this talk I will discuss new ways the Wikimedia community could think of art as educationally useful, including as a key educator of the machines already reading Wikimedia projects, and how changes in policy and outlook can be a doorway into new users and contributors, particularly with underrepresented communities. Those attending will be encouraged to follow along on their own devices, seeing for themselves how restricting art-based contributions is contributing to systemic bias, and asked to consider how we might expand to include more kinds of visual knowledge in Wikimedia projects.
Outcomes
1. Sharing resources with anyone who wants to participate to bring more art as a knowledge form online. These resources will teach people how, and why, art images should be added to Wikimedia Commons. 2. Increase community understanding of Wikimedia's role in the education of intelligent machines as reflected by discussions, policy, and forms that will be proposed in my talk. 3. Ultimately, attendees will be encouraged to think, discuss, and act to include more art, particularly from underrepresented populations and demographics, in Wikimedia projects.
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