In AI We Trust

In AI We Trust was published in 2021 by Polity Press against the backdrop of rapidly accelerating public and academic debate regarding the societal impacts of artificial intelligence. Helga Nowotny, a prominent professor emerita of social studies of science, wrote the text to shift the focus from the technical mechanics of machine learning toward the complex human relationship with algorithmic systems. She argues that society must move beyond passive acceptance of these technologies, advocating instead for a more reflexive and transparent framework for how we integrate AI into our institutions.

The book is a distillation of Nowotny’s extensive career analyzing the interplay between science, technology, and society. Her approach is characterized by a critique of the deterministic view that AI development is an inevitable force, instead proposing that human oversight and democratic oversight are essential to maintaining public trust. Upon its release, the work was noted for its nuanced perspective on the 'human-in-the-loop' concept, positioning itself as a vital contribution to the growing body of literature dedicated to the ethical governance of digital intelligence.