The Women Talk Tech Responsible Technology Reading List
Sep 30, 2024
Twenty-five books to change the way you think about technology & artificial intelligence.
If you’re looking to deepen your understanding of the tech world while also exploring its broader societal impact, this list of insightful books and articles is for you! These works dive into the complexities of algorithms, data, and artificial intelligence, while also addressing issues of bias, inequality, and the need for ethical considerations in technology. Whether you're a seasoned tech professional or simply curious about the forces shaping our digital world, these reads offer powerful perspectives to inform your journey.
1. Weapons of Math Destruction by Cathy O'Neil
Cathy O'Neil takes a hard look at how seemingly objective algorithms often perpetuate inequality, disproportionately affecting marginalized communities. A crucial read for understanding the darker side of big data.
2. Algorithms of Oppression by Safiya Umoja Noble
Noble uncovers how search engines and other algorithms are far from neutral, often reinforcing systemic racism and sexism. This book is a wake-up call to the biases built into our digital infrastructure.
3. Race After Technology by Ruha Benjamin
Ruha Benjamin introduces the concept of the "new Jim Code," examining how emerging technologies uphold existing racial hierarchies. A must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of race and tech.
4. Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez
Criado Perez highlights the gender data gap, showing how women are systematically left out of data collection. Her work demonstrates the real-world consequences of designing technology and policy without women in mind.
5. The Ethical Algorithm by Michael Kearns & Aaron Roth
In the age of machine learning, Kearns and Roth explore how to build algorithms that respect privacy, fairness, and ethics, offering practical solutions for more responsible tech development.
6. Artificial Intelligence: A Guide for Thinking Humans by Melanie Mitchell
Mitchell presents a balanced overview of AI, breaking down complex concepts for non-experts while exploring its limitations and ethical challenges.
7. Data Histories Edited by Elena Aronova, Christine von Oertzen, and David Sepkoski
A fascinating collection of essays tracing the historical development of data practices and their political, social, and ethical implications.
8. Dark Matters: On the Surveillance of Blackness by Simone Browne
Browne traces the history of surveillance, focusing on how Black communities have been disproportionately targeted and monitored. This book connects past practices to contemporary issues of racialized state control.
This important text offers a unique perspective on AI development, proposing protocols rooted in Indigenous knowledge systems that challenge mainstream approaches to ethics and technology.
10. Anatomy of an AI System by Kate Crawford & Vladan Joler
This ground-breaking analysis maps the labor, resources, and data exploitation behind AI systems like Amazon's Echo, offering a stark view of the global supply chain behind "smart" technologies.
11. Data Feminism by Catherine D’Ignazio & Lauren F. Klein
D'Ignazio and Klein call for a feminist approach to data science that challenges power imbalances and advocates for more equitable data practices.
12. Custodians of the Internet by Tarleton Gillespie
Gillespie examines the crucial role content moderators play in shaping online spaces, highlighting their impact on free speech and digital culture.
13. Intellectual Property: A Very Short Introduction by Siva Vaidhyanathan (SHORT READ)
Vaidhyanathan offers a concise look at intellectual property, its global impact, and the controversies surrounding its role in creativity and innovation.
14. Behind the Screen by Sarah T. Roberts
This insightful work sheds light on the hidden, emotionally taxing work of content moderation, highlighting the psychological toll it takes on those tasked with keeping the internet "clean."
15. Black Software by Charlton McIlwain
McIlwain traces the contributions of Black activists and technologists in leveraging the internet for racial justice, providing a rich history of Black empowerment in the digital age.
16. The Costs of Connection by Nick Couldry & Ulises A. Mejias
Couldry and Mejias argue that data collection has become a form of colonialism, where personal data is commodified and exploited by global tech companies.
Chang takes a deep dive into the toxic culture of sexism in Silicon Valley, highlighting the inequalities that still plague the tech industry and offering ideas for change.
18. Hello World: Being Human in the Age of Algorithms by Hannah Fry
Fry gives a human-centered exploration of algorithms, balancing their benefits with potential dangers as they increasingly shape our daily lives.
A collection of essays exploring the intersection of digital culture, copyright, and technology, Doctorow’s work highlights the challenges of creating and distributing content in the digital age.
20. Predict and Surveil by Sarah Brayne
Brayne examines how predictive policing technologies are reshaping law enforcement, often reinforcing existing inequalities by disproportionately targeting marginalized communities.
Interested in learning more? Check out this fantastic reading list created by AI Truth!