In this interview, featured in EntreCampus magazine, issue #11, sociologist Helena Machado discusses the importance of studying artificial intelligence and facial recognition technologies from the perspective of the social sciences and humanities, rather than just through technical lenses. She explains that such technologies are deeply embedded in everyday life, yet their ethical, social, and political impacts remain under-explored. Machado highlights her ERC-funded project fAIces, which goes beyond simple dichotomies of security versus surveillance to investigate how these systems shape identity, discrimination, and citizenship. The research will involve a diverse range of actors — from developers and tech firms to activists, artists, and racialized communities — to generate new data and understand often unheard voices in public debate. Ultimately, the goal is to foster more nuanced insights that can inform public engagement with facial recognition technologies.
Access and read the interview here:
