Amir H. Payberah - 2026-03-24

At a time when we are witnessing the violence of AI-driven warfare, where civilians in places like Iran are treated as acceptable targets, and the expansion of mass surveillance against marginalized communities worldwide, we will study "The AI Con" by Emily M. Bender and Alex Hanna in our Co-Liberative Computing reading circle.

The book examines this moment through the idea of AI Hype, showing how AI is often presented as extremely powerful or world-changing, using dramatic ideas like “AI destroying humanity” to attract attention, money, and trust. This framing pushes people to adopt these systems quickly, while distracting from real harms today, such as the use of AI in warfare, wrongful arrests from facial recognition, and deepfake abuse.

The authors argue that this narrative mainly benefits companies by attracting capital and influence, even though many promises, such as solving major social problems, are unrealistic. This can lead to overtrust in systems that cause harm, such as unfair decisions or false accusations. The book moves from explaining how these systems work to examining their impact on work, social services, and fields such as art, journalism, and science. It also critiques both very optimistic and very pessimistic views of AI, and shows that AI hype can be challenged. We can push back by asking questions about what these systems actually do, who benefits, who is harmed, and how they are built. Through everyday resistance, stronger regulation, and collective action, we can shape how AI is used rather than simply accept it.