Name: Refiguring the Future: A NetGain Event
Start: 2018-05-03T16:00:00-05:00
Location: Museum Of Contemporary Art Chicago

Refiguring the Future: A NetGain Event

MacArthur Foundation and Open Society Foundations

4:00 p.m.         Doors open                                                     4:30 p.m.         Program                                                          6:30 p.m.         Reception
Please join us for a unique public program hosted by the <A HREF="https://www.netgainpartnership.org/" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">NetGain Partnership</A> that will explore the role of artists in critically examining the social impacts of artificial intelligence and related technologies, and highlight how the arts can help us refigure the future. The event publicly launches <A HREF="https://refreshart.tech/" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">REFRESH</A>, a new initiative that supports the work of women and women-identified artists, especially women of color, LGBTQ+ artists, and disabled artists, with the aim of fostering the creation of more diverse and inclusive work in the field of art, science, and technology. REFRESH is being presented in partnership with <A HREF="https://www.eyebeam.org/" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Eyebeam</A>, a nonprofit studio for collaborative experiments with technology towards a more imaginative and just world. <A HREF="https://www.eyebeam.org/" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer"> </A>
Confirmed presenters and performers include:
<UL>
<LI CLASS="MsoNormal"><A HREF="http://www.salome.zone/about/" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Salome Asega</A>, Curatorial Advisor, REFRESH</LI>
<LI CLASS="MsoNormal"><A HREF="https://ainowinstitute.org/people/kate-crawford.html" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Kate Crawford</A>, Co-Founder and Director of Research, AI Now Institute at New York University</LI>
<LI CLASS="MsoNormal"><A HREF="http://deweyhagborg.com/bio" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Heather Dewey-Hagborg</A>, Co-Founder and Co-Curator, REFRESH</LI>
<LI CLASS="MsoNormal"><A HREF="http://lauren-mccarthy.com/about" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Lauren McCarthy</A>, REFRESH Artist</LI>
<LI CLASS="MsoNormal"><A HREF="https://obadike.squarespace.com/" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Mendi and Keith Obadike</A>, Artists</LI>
<LI CLASS="MsoNormal"><A HREF="https://dorothysantos.com/bio/" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Dorothy Santos</A>, Co-Curator, REFRESH</LI>
</UL>
A panel discussion will feature leaders from the NetGain Partnership including:
<UL>
<LI CLASS="MsoNormal"><A HREF="https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/about/leadership/" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Mitchell Baker</A>, Chairwoman and Co-founder of Mozilla</LI>
<LI CLASS="MsoNormal"><A HREF="https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/people/patrick-gaspard" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Patrick Gaspard</A>, President, Open Society Foundations</LI>
<LI CLASS="MsoNormal"><A HREF="https://www.macfound.org/about/people/president/" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Julia Stasch</A>, President, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation </LI>
<LI CLASS="MsoNormal"><A HREF="https://www.fordfoundation.org/people/darren-walker/" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Darren Walker</A>, President, Ford Foundation </LI>
</UL>
<A HREF="http://www.alondranelson.com/" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Alondra Nelson</A>, President, Social Science Research Council, and Professor of Sociology, Columbia University, will moderate the panel. 
The <A HREF="https://www.netgainpartnership.org/" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">NetGain Partnership</A> is a collaboration involving the Ford Foundation, Knight Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, Mozilla Foundation, Open Society Foundations and, this year, the Omidyar Network, that seeks to strengthen digital society and advance the public interest.
The NetGain Partnership's current focus
 The<A HREF="https://www.netgainpartnership.org/" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer"> NetGain Partnership</A> is currently focused on the public interest implications of the “quantified society,” a broad term it is using to describe the sweeping changes underway whereby computers are making more decisions impacting people’s lives. Through a series of activities, NetGain aims to bolster the ecosystem of people and organizations working to advance artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in the public interest.
A special emphasis is being placed on the arts in the context of NetGain’s work. An important cultural function of art is to effect self-conscious reflection on societal conditions and, in some cases, intervene directly in social processes. Given the changes underway in society brought on by AI, it is an important moment to consider how the arts can help frame questions and engender deeper discussion about the impact of our increasingly quantified society and the potential pathways forward for refiguring the future.
Across domains, there is a profound shift underway whereby AI technologies, driven by data and algorithms, are making an increasing number of decisions impacting people and communities. The decisions that machines make are not neutral. Rather, they are shaped by the quality and kinds of data used to train algorithms as well as the design of the algorithms themselves, and the culture and experiences of those making design and deployment choices.
We are at a critical juncture. Over the next several years, the trajectory of the AI field and the transformative technologies it is producing will likely be set. It is therefore important that particular focus be given to the civil rights, civil liberties, ethics and governance implications of AI to help minimize the harms that are emerging and advance the AI field in a direction that benefits as many people as possible.
Seating is limited and reservations are required. To attend, please RSVP no later than April 30. Feel free to share this invitation with others who might be interested in attending this event.

Museum Of Contemporary Art Chicago

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