A special screening last Saturday of filmmaker Valerie Veatch’s documentary, Ghost in the Machine, examined the historical and ideological roots of artificial intelligence and offered audiences a critical look at the forces that have shaped the technology’s development.
The film challenges the idea of AI as a neutral or inevitable technological advancement, tracing its connections to racism, misogyny, eugenics and broader structures of power. It explored how narratives of progress and efficiency have often obscured the political and cultural influences underpinning modern AI systems.
Serving as an accessible introduction to the history of artificial intelligence, the documentary examined a range of influential and controversial figures, including Francis Galton, William Shockley and Elon Musk.
The screening was followed by a Q&A session with Dr Abeba Birhane, Director of the AI Accountability Lab at Trinity College Dublin and ADAPT. The discussion was chaired by Elaine Burke, host of the For Tech’s Sake podcast.
For those that missed it, it is also available on Kinema.
