Our Research Programs
Through original research on the social implications of data, automation, and AI, we produce evidence to ground informed public debate about emerging technology.
Our Approach
We conduct sociotechnical research, recognizing that it is not possible to understand the “social” without the “technical,” nor the “technical” without the “social.” We foreground questions about power and justice, centering people who are on the margins and prioritizing field study over simplistic narratives about technology.
Research Themes
AI on the Ground
We use social science to analyze and inform the design, use, and governance of artificial intelligence systems.
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AI Civics
We work in partnership with organizations and public institutions across the US to build civic strength for the AI era.
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Algorithmic Impact Methods Lab
AIMLab develops methods for conducting algorithmic impact assessments to ensure that the governance of artificial intelligence is empirical and…
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Climate, Technology, and Justice
We explore the full spectrum of environmental concerns connected to technology, with a focus on people and communities.
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Democracy in the Age of AI
We seek to understand how information systems, automation, and AI contribute to tensions between democratic theory and practice.
Labor Futures
We interrogate how technology is disrupting, destabilizing, and transforming aspects of work and employment.
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Participation, Agency, and Algorithmic Accountability
We study the methods and challenges of empowering communities to shape the systems that impact their lives.
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Technologies of Health and Care
We examine the power dynamics embedded in how health data and technology are designed and used in care settings.
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Trustworthy Infrastructures
We investigate how communities collectively respond to top-down technological interventions, focusing on local perspectives.
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