Participatory Action Research in Critical Data Studies: Interrogating AI from a South-North Approach

Medrado, A. and Verdegem, P. 2024. Participatory Action Research in Critical Data Studies: Interrogating AI from a South-North Approach. Big Data & Society. 11 (1), pp. 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1177/20539517241235869

TitleParticipatory Action Research in Critical Data Studies: Interrogating AI from a South-North Approach
TypeJournal article
AuthorsMedrado, A. and Verdegem, P.
Abstract

In this article, we draw inspiration from participatory action research (PAR) and the work of Latin American thinkers such as Freire and Fals Borda to interrogate artificial intelligence (AI). We propose a South-North flow by utilising PAR approaches that stem from Latin America, challenging how the North’s centrality is taken for granted regarding AI epistemologies, experiences, and understandings. Conducting workshops in London with a diverse group of students, tech workers and activists, we argue that PAR can not only empower marginalised communities in the Global South; we can also learn more from its application in the Global North, in contexts where people deal with different struggles. Our analysis delves into three specific concepts around AI and data (in)justice: autonomy, empathy and dialogue. First, inspired by PAR principles, participants started to problematise what they called an empty interpretation of empathy, establishing parallels with transnational dynamics of data capitalism, which disadvantage marginalised communities in the Global South. Second, PAR offered a critical lens to analyse issues of AI and autonomy in ways that are less individualistic and more collective and politically engaged. Third, PAR’s dialogical spirit enabled participants to locate various intersections between AI and dialogue. Critiquing the idea of a superior AI, participants were reminded of the possibilities offered by human intelligence and the combination of thinking, making and feeling or what Fals Borda (2003) calls our sentipensante nature.

KeywordsArtificial intelligence
Critical Data Studies
Data Justice
Global North
Global South
Autonomy
Empathy
Dialogue
JournalBig Data & Society
Journal citation11 (1), pp. 1-14
ISSN2053-9517
Year2024
PublisherSage
Publisher's version
License
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
File Access Level
Open (open metadata and files)
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1177/20539517241235869
Web address (URL)https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/epub/10.1177/20539517241235869
Publication dates
Published18 Mar 2024
Supplemental file
File Access Level
Open (open metadata and files)

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