Your Computer Is on Fire
by Thomas S. Mullaney
"Your Computer Is on Fire" challenges conventional understandings of technology, arguing that our digital tools are not neutral but are instead deeply embedded with societal biases and power structures. The book explores how artificial intelligence, algorithms, and digital interfaces often reflect and amplify existing inequalities, particularly concerning race, gender, and class. It highlights instances where technology, through design choices and inherent biases, can perpetuate harmful stereotypes and reinforce discriminatory practices. Ultimately, the work advocates for a critical and proactive approach to technology development, urging readers to recognize and address the political and social implications of our digital world. The central message is a call to action, emphasizing the need for conscious design and ethical considerations to build more equitable and inclusive technological futures.
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Key Insights & Memorable Quotes
Below are the most popular and impactful highlights and quotes from Your Computer Is on Fire:
The important work of Miriam Sweeney at the University of Alabama shows how Microsoft’s Ms. Dewey was a highly sexualized, racialized, and gendered avatar for the company (see fig. 9.1). Her Bitch interview about fembots is a perfect entry point for those who don’t understand the politics of gendered and anthropomorphized robots.
We can make, bootstrap, and science the shit out of this.
