Classifying Humans in the Age of AI
Søilen, Karen Louise Grova LU
(2025)
p.11-31
- Abstract
- This chapter discusses how a number of contemporary algorithmic classification practices speak to the rebirth of the positivist idea of the body as a site of truth, consequently turning bodies into vulnerable sites of surveillance. Moreover, the chapter argues that rather than mitigating the biases in various training datasets and algorithmic systems to reduce algorithmic harms, what is needed is an acknowledgement that classifying humans is inherently problematic. To illustrate and deepen the argument, the chapter discusses a selection of critical artworks by Trevor Paglen, Zach Blas, and the artist duo Hesselholdt & Mejlvang that highlight different aspects of the ways in which troubling classifications of humans are currently at... (More)
- This chapter discusses how a number of contemporary algorithmic classification practices speak to the rebirth of the positivist idea of the body as a site of truth, consequently turning bodies into vulnerable sites of surveillance. Moreover, the chapter argues that rather than mitigating the biases in various training datasets and algorithmic systems to reduce algorithmic harms, what is needed is an acknowledgement that classifying humans is inherently problematic. To illustrate and deepen the argument, the chapter discusses a selection of critical artworks by Trevor Paglen, Zach Blas, and the artist duo Hesselholdt & Mejlvang that highlight different aspects of the ways in which troubling classifications of humans are currently at work. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/8a32a0b5-42b2-467e-8693-bf2101a4ccff
- author
- Søilen, Karen Louise Grova
LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2025-07
- type
- Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Classification, AI, Trevor Paglen, Zac Blas, Hesselholdt & Mejlvang
- host publication
- Exploring Contemporary Classification Practices : Organizing Information, Technological Change and Ideological Contestation - Organizing Information, Technological Change and Ideological Contestation
- editor
- Andersen, Jack and Hansson, Joacim
- pages
- 21 pages
- publisher
- Routledge
- ISBN
- 9781003605690
- 9781032997230
- 9781032997261
- DOI
- 10.4324/9781003605690-3
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 8a32a0b5-42b2-467e-8693-bf2101a4ccff
- date added to LUP
- 2025-03-03 11:41:26
- date last changed
- 2025-08-14 03:32:56
@inbook{8a32a0b5-42b2-467e-8693-bf2101a4ccff,
abstract = {{This chapter discusses how a number of contemporary algorithmic classification practices speak to the rebirth of the positivist idea of the body as a site of truth, consequently turning bodies into vulnerable sites of surveillance. Moreover, the chapter argues that rather than mitigating the biases in various training datasets and algorithmic systems to reduce algorithmic harms, what is needed is an acknowledgement that classifying humans is inherently problematic. To illustrate and deepen the argument, the chapter discusses a selection of critical artworks by Trevor Paglen, Zach Blas, and the artist duo Hesselholdt & Mejlvang that highlight different aspects of the ways in which troubling classifications of humans are currently at work.}},
author = {{Søilen, Karen Louise Grova}},
booktitle = {{Exploring Contemporary Classification Practices : Organizing Information, Technological Change and Ideological Contestation}},
editor = {{Andersen, Jack and Hansson, Joacim}},
isbn = {{9781003605690}},
keywords = {{Classification; AI; Trevor Paglen; Zac Blas; Hesselholdt & Mejlvang}},
language = {{eng}},
pages = {{11--31}},
publisher = {{Routledge}},
title = {{Classifying Humans in the Age of AI}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9781003605690-3}},
doi = {{10.4324/9781003605690-3}},
year = {{2025}},
}