The Age of Digital Divination
An anthropologist asks what algorithms and astrology have in common in a digital era of predictive technologies.
Matthew Gwynfryn Thomas
Matthew Gwynfryn Thomas is an anthropologist working in the nonprofit sector in London. His current work combines data science, social science, and futures studies to address the needs of people in crisis. Matthew’s Ph.D. and postdoctoral research was about the evolution of cooperation in marginalized communities. He has also written popular science articles for a variety of outlets, including BioNews, SciDev.Net, and the Wellcome Trust Blog. Follow him on Twitter @matthewgthomas.
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Can a Robot Guess What You’re Thinking?
Scientists are trying to create artificial intelligence that can think about others’ thoughts. What might this reveal about perspective-taking in AI, humans, and animals?
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Is Artificial Intelligence Magic?
What does the anthropology of magic reveal about how people create and use AI?
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Your Body as Part Machine
Humans can operate prosthetic limbs with their minds. What will happen if we become increasingly knitted with technology in the future?
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Your Body as a Map
Adornments such as tattoos, piercings, and lip plates help to define our social identities. But what those modifications mean is in constant flux.
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The Age of Cultured Machines
Researchers have built a robot that can transfer its skills to other robots. Could this advance pave the way for a robot form of culture?