Henry Austin
henryaustin@hks.harvard.edu
This talk considers how scientists have attempted to reform government intelligence agencies through the lens of their own technologies. In the early Cold War in the United States, scientists working on pattern recognition and allied research in artificial intelligence began arguing their techniques could solve problems of surveillance. Serving on prominent government advisory panels and building specialized computers, these scientists went on to change how the Cold War American state conducted surveillance. Within this context, I argue that early AI research was not a purified attempt to simulate human intelligence but part of a concerted effort to solve problems of intelligence agencies.
Aaron Gluck-Thaler is an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy, where he holds the Professorship in Data Sciences and is a Faculty Affiliate at The Citizen Lab. Aaron’s research focuses on the history of surveillance, artificial intelligence, and science and technology in the Cold War. His current book project examines the role that scientists played in the emergence of data-intensive surveillance in the 20th century. Aaron received his PhD in the History of Science from Harvard University.
LOCATION:CGIS South, S354 STATUS:CONFIRMED DTSTART:20260330T161500Z DTEND:20260330T180000Z END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR