Module C: Historical perspective – Methodology

Distinctive Contribution of Module CModule C makes two key contributions to the study of AI and big data:Focus on Knowledge TechnologiesOur emphasis is on 'knowledge' technologies—not media or information technologies—and not on technology in general. This distinction is crucial to understanding how these systems shape meaning-making processes.Systematic Historical ApproachWe adopt a systematic approach to map the entanglement between past and present knowledge technologies and culture. Unlike many contemporary discussions that focus on specific issues or technological applications (such as deepfakes or photo manipulation), we map the entirety of past and present knowledge technologies to identify trends, general divergences, and similarities.Methodological RationaleWhen we use the term 'mapping the technologies', we refer to different issues rather than different precedents. Our definition of knowledge technologies as systems involved in sense-making means that past and present examples of KTs can only be understood historically and contextually.For this reason, we avoid creating lists of specific past KT examples (such as the printing press, television, or the Web) to compare with contemporary AI and big data. Such an approach would incorrectly assume the technological element is preponderant compared to the human dimension. It would also lead us to consider KTs as tools rather than systems, imposing an overly abstract and essentialist understanding of each technology (as if there were something inherently 'television' or 'chatbot') rather than examining the historically and culturally realised interactions between humans and these technologies.Instead, we focus on similar issues across time and across technologies that are relevant to both AI and big data. Crucially, we examine both threats and opportunities offered by past and present KTs to identify relevant and reusable patterns from historical interactions with knowledge technologies.Research QuestionsThis methodology addresses two central questions:• Is the difference between past KTs and AI and big data a matter of substance or merely scale?• How did past examples of KTs shape and enhance democratic participation and human agency?