Hybrid materialities, power, and expertise in the era of general purpose technologies

Rella, Ludovico; Hansen, Kristian Bondo; Thylsturp, Nanna Bonde; Campbell-Verduyn, Malcolm; Preda, Alex; Rodima-Taylor, Daivi; Xu, Ruowen; Straube, Till

Abstract

This article proposes three distinct perspectives on and approaches to the study of hybridisation across society, industries, and academia enabled by General Purpose Technologies like AI and blockchain. The term hybridisation is frequently invoked to describe and prescribe human-machine interaction and technological interoperability. Critically assessing processes of hybridisation through the perspectives of (1) materiality, (2) power and (3) expertise, we argue that the language of hybridity smoothens out frictions between human judgment, on the one hand, and automated decision-making, on the other, and that processes of hybridisation veil technology-induced epistemic and economic inequalities. In each of these perspectives, we draw on fieldwork conducted at different sites where general-purpose technologies are in play.

Citation

Rella, L., Hansen, K. B., Thylsturp, N. B., Campbell-Verduyn, M., Preda, A., Rodima-Taylor, D., Xu, R., & Straube, T. (online). Hybrid materialities, power, and expertise in the era of general purpose technologies. Distinktion: Scandinavian Journal of Social Theory, 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1080/1600910x.2024.2414312

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 4, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Oct 22, 2024
• Deposit Date: Oct 29, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 29, 2024
• Journal: Distinktion: Journal of Social Theory
• Print ISSN: 1600-910X
• Electronic ISSN: 2159-9149
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Pages: 1-20
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/1600910x.2024.2414312
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/2992897