"Harm classifiers are machine learning models that are primarily used in three settings: content moderation, where they scale up the detection of harmful text; intervention selection, where they identify the most effective alignment interventions; and preference alignment, where they help train models to be harmless. Prior work has established that popular harm classifiers disagree substantially with each other in terms of which pieces of text are harmful. However, it is not yet known whether these differences actually matter in the settings where harm classifiers are used." — Vyoma Raman

"Generative AI now takes part in every step of design work, and it is becoming hard to tell whose intention stands behind a design. Drawing on interviews with eighteen students in an interactive device design course, I show how design intent erodes and how students push back. Some polish the signs of design work into cosmetics; others recapture intent by repairing, steering and guarding their ideas. Borrowing Lessig's "pathetic dot," I map the forces that press on a designer: policy, tool architecture, grade rivalry and norms." — Hauke Sandhaus

Catherine Griffiths is a designer, researcher, and Assistant Professor in Computational Design Practices at Columbia GSAPP whose work explores the politics of machine learning and its impact on labor, gender, governance, and urban life. Viewing algorithms as contemporary sites of struggle, her research examines how AI is reshaping human rights and social relations across cities, workplaces, and the home.

The Digital Life Seminar series offers students and guests an opportunity to engage actively with leading scholars and practitioners researching and responding to the development and application of digital technologies. Stay tuned for more information soon!

The Digital Life Seminar series offers students and guests an opportunity to engage actively with leading scholars and practitioners researching and responding to the development and application of digital technologies. Stay tuned for more information soon!

The Digital Life Seminar series offers students and guests an opportunity to engage actively with leading scholars and practitioners researching and responding to the development and application of digital technologies. Stay tuned for more information soon!

The Digital Life Seminar series offers students and guests an opportunity to engage actively with leading scholars and practitioners researching and responding to the development and application of digital technologies. Stay tuned for more information soon!

The Digital Life Seminar series offers students and guests an opportunity to engage actively with leading scholars and practitioners researching and responding to the development and application of digital technologies. Stay tuned for more information soon!

The Digital Life Seminar series offers students and guests an opportunity to engage actively with leading scholars and practitioners researching and responding to the development and application of digital technologies. Stay tuned for more information soon!