#207 Can Generative AI Learn to Love Us? | WeAreSTS

What is love? Can we program machines to be in love or to love us back? Ken Sio (UCL Human Sciences BSc) tackles one of humanity’s greatest questions but adds a modern twist: Can generative AI learn to love, or at least, can it make us believe it loves us back?As Generative AI becomes ubiquitous, the market is rising quickly for ever more sophisticated virtual companions. They promise devoted support, connection, inexhaustible empathy, and sometimes, swirling romance. Algorithms might be able to mimic love. They might be able to do it convincingly. When they do, what does it mean for us to keep asking, “is it real?”To explore questions of love in the machine, Ken teams up with Sol, a sharp-witted voice from ChatGPT4.0. Together they explore what love means for humans by trying to find it in machines. From neurotransmitters sparking our emotions to Plato’s musings in The Symposium, Ken, Sol, and their human guests unpack how biology, evolution and philosophy shape our understanding of the experience we call “love”. In this moment of rapid invention, what they discover may surprise us all.****Trigger Warning****This episode briefly mentions suicide and other sensitive topics. If you or someone you know is struggling, support is available. Contact Samaritans in the UK at 116 123.FeaturingEpisode producer and creatorKen Sio, BSc Human Sciences www.linkedin.com/in/kensioInterviewersKen Sio https://www.linkedin.com/in/kensio/‘Sol’ (Powered by ChatGPT-4.0, Advanced Voice Mode)IntervieweesDr Emily Emott, UCL Associate Professor in Biological Anthropology https://www.ucl.ac.uk/anthropology/people/emily-emmottTaylor Enoch, PhD Candidate and Postgraduate Teaching Assistant at UCL https://www.taylordenoch.com/HostProfessor Joe Cain, UCL Professor of History and Philosophy of Biology. https://ucl.ac.uk/sts/cainShow Producer and MixerCapri Huffman, MSc Science, Technology and SocietyMusic and sound credits in Ken’s episodesee episode libraryIntro and Outro Music"Rollin at 5," by Kevin MacLeod available: https://incompetech.com CC By Attribution 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Break Music“Laconic Granny,” by Kevin Macleod available: https://incompetech.com CC By Attribution 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ProgrammeWeAreSTS is a production of UCL Department of Science and Technology Studies (STS). Visit: https://ucl.ac.uk/sts/podcast

By 2050, nearly 2.5 billion people are projected to have some degree of hearing loss. Darcy Watson (UCL BSc Human Sciences) explores the subject of ‘hearing health’ with audiology expert Charlotte Rogers. How might our modern, tech-driven lifestyles be quietly eroding our hearing? From our constant usage of personal devices to the exposure to environmental factors that exacerbate hearing loss, the hidden risks of today's world are anything but silent in their long-term impact. Is our generation unknowingly heading towards a hearing crisis? Can innovation and lifestyle adjustments provide a solution before it’s too late? Listen close - but not too closely - to discover what’s truly on the line for our hearing.“Deaf Sentence” is a project created by Darcy Watson for the UCL module, HPSC0161 Podcasting as Science Communication, offered by Department of Science and Technology Studies (STS). For more information about the course, visit profjoecain.net/0161FeaturingInterviewer and Project CreatorDarcy Watson (Human Sciences BSc)linkedin.com/in/darcy-watson-7909621a9IntervieweesCharlotte Rogers, Hearing Rehabilitation Specialist. Currently, Charlotte is a Education and Engagement Growth Specialist at Cochlearhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/charlotte-rogers-686615132/HostProfessor Joe Cain, UCL Professor of History and Philosophy of Biology in UCL Department of Science and Technology Studies (STS).https://ucl.ac.uk/sts/cainMusic credits“Easy Podcast Intro Theme” by Novifi https://pixabay.com/music/beats-easy- podcast-intro-theme-255102/"Rollin at 5" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/About WeAreSTSWeAreSTS is a production of UCL Department of Science and Technology Studies (STS). Visit: https://ucl.ac.uk/sts/podcast

Students come into university with strong visions of activism and improvement. They know the planet needs their help. But how? What can STS (in the form of degrees like “Sociology and Politics of Science BSc” and “History and Philosophy of Science BSc”) add that isn’t already available and easy to reach?In this episode, we talk with two STS first-year students about their experiences in the degree thus far. How has it helped to sharpen their ideas of where to where to act and why. We asked them to discuss one of the first-year projects that made them approach activism better. Both chose work from our “Big Problems in Science and Technology Studies” module, which is designed for just this purpose. Our focus this year was on Oceans.Fatima philosophises an experimental geoengineering project by Russ George, a Silicon Valley entrepreneur who, in 2012, sold carbon credits for dumping 100 tonnes of iron sulfate into international waters to trigger an algal bloom. She questions whether this ‘experiment’ was scientific or just pseudoscience, as well as the ethics of George's near-unilateral venture in the no-man's-land of the open ocean.JJ considers the idea of “building with blue biomass,” an idea promoted by an international network of architects, engineers, and academics (some at UCL!) who are imagining new ways to use marine micro-organisms for sustainable Net-Zero construction. The building sector produces approximately 40 percent of carbon emissions today. But how to connect the vision to action? JJ considers the challenges keeping this kind of initiative from connecting with the public, the tyranny of the techno-market, and the role of sociotechnical imaginaries in driving change. For the papers discussed, search "profjoecain WeAreSTS 205" FeaturingEpisode producerCapri Huffman, MSc Science, Technology and SocietyIntervieweesFatima Ismail, BSc Sociology and Politics of Science coursehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/fatima-ismail-164b88292 and Instagram (@fatima.activist).JJ Laws is a first-year student in UCL Department of Science and Technology Studies (STS).HostProfessor Joe Cain, UCL Professor of History and Philosophy of Biologyhttps://ucl.ac.uk/sts/cainMusic credits “Rollin At 5,” by Kevin MacLeodhttps://filmmusic.io/song/5000-rollin-at-5 “Sweeter Vermouth” by Kevin MacLeodhttps://filmmusic.io/song/4450-sweeter-vermouth Podcast informationWeAreSTS is a production of the Department of Science and Technology Studies (STS) at University College London (UCL). To find out more, or to leave feedback about the show:https://ucl.ac.uk/sts/podcast

Standard rule over us. We’re affected every day by decisions someone has made about standards. They determine the shape of our electrical plugs, the quality of our water, the signals used by our phones, and so much more. Standards don’t just happen. They’re decided. Sometimes one company does that. Sometimes it’s done by international deliberation, argument, and eventual compromise.Talking about standards is classic work in STS. Standards create the scaffolding on which science and technology builds. They constrain and they enable. It matters who gets to decide these things. Standards setting can affect our lives for generations, and they can cost us (or profit us) to the tune of many trillions of pounds.Luckily, here in STS we have an expert on standards. Dr Saheli Datta Burton is Lecturer in Science Policy. She’s recently co-authored some research trying to build a risk assessment for the way standards are being set these days across a huge range to subjects. She’s looking for patterns, trends, and general themes. The conclusions she reaches are, I’d say, profoundly worrying from the British perspective. Simply put: we do not have our act together in this area, and this is going to come back to bite.Saheli’s article is co-authored work:Nicholas Zúñiga, Saheli Datta Burton, Filippo Blancato, Madeline Carr, The geopolitics of technology standards: historical context for US, EU and Chinese approaches, International Affairs, Volume 100, Issue 4, July 2024, Pages 1635–1652, https://doi.org/10.1093/ia/iiae124To summarise the piece, it explores how the US, China, and the EU are shaping global technology standards with different approaches. The US traditionally favoured a hands-off strategy, leaving standard setting largely to the private sector. China, historically top-down, is now blending private and government involvement to set tech standards globally. The EU seeks a balance between competition and cooperation to protect wider socio-cultural values. All three regions are increasing government involvement in standard-setting due to technology's growing geopolitical importance. The article emphasizes how control over standards can lead to economic benefits and power. The EU's newest strategy focuses on gaining a competitive edge while ensuring cooperation and preserving values like interoperability.FeaturingIntervieweeDr Saheli Datta Burton is a Lecturer (teaching) in Science Policy (Responsible Research and Innovation) at UCL Department of Science and Technology Studies (STS). https://profiles.ucl.ac.uk/77672-saheli-datta-burtonHostProfessor Joe Cain https://ucl.ac.uk/sts/cainMusic creditsMusic credits“Rollin At 5,” by Kevin MacLeod https://filmmusic.io/song/5000-rollin-at-5“Spy Glass” by Kevin MacLeod https://filmmusic.io/song/4410-spy-glassPodcast informationWeAreSTS is a production of the Department of Science and Technology Studies (STS) at University College London (UCL). To find out more, or to leave feedback about the show:https://ucl.ac.uk/sts/podcast

Children as young as eight are targeted by influencers and advertisers towards anti-aging products, from skin creams and anti-wrinkle devices to “baby botox”. Maddy Ross (Human Sciences ’25) investigates how influencers and social media algorithms drive anti-aging anxiety to ever increasing levels while industry advertising markets solutions to ever younger people, especially girls. She identifies increasing concerns over risks that are physical, psychological, and social. Are young people being exploited without even knowing it?Influencers play a key role in these processes, especially impacting children’s consumption behaviours. Algorithms on social media platforms seek engagement by moving to increasingly extreme representations – anything to keep us connected and scrolling.Should we be worried about “baby botox” and its promotion? Yes, Ross argues. Its increase in popularity is only symptom of powerful industries who are constantly looking to sell you something. It seems such products have no serious resistance, regulation, or consumer protection and growing evidence suggests hidden costs and runaway risks.This is a report from the STSNewsRoom 2024.FeaturingInterviewer and researcherMaddy Ross (Human Sciences BSc) https://uk.linkedin.com/in/madeline-ross-4188b2287IntervieweesDr Caitlin Shaughnessy (Researcher at UCL Department of Information Studies)Professor Afshin Mosahebi (Professor at UCL Department of Surgical Biotechnology and Consultant Plastic Surgeon)HostProfessor Joe Cain https://ucl.ac.uk/sts/cainMusic credits“Rollin At 5,” by Kevin MacLeodhttps://filmmusic.io/song/5000-rollin-at-5Podcast informationWeAreSTS is a production of the Department of Science and Technology Studies (STS) at University College London (UCL). To find out more, or to leave feedback about the show:https://ucl.ac.uk/sts/podcast

Ian Urbina’s 2019 book, Outlaw Ocean, brilliantly investigates hidden worlds of human activity on the high seas. From modern day pirates and traffickers to gargantuan fishing fleets to “freedom-loving” recluses and entrepreneurs, his stories build on the idea of oceans as lawless spaces well beyond the awareness of most people. He documents extremes of human behaviour. He also describes the extraordinary scale of extraction and exploitation that takes place off shore. In this world, who’s “free” and what are the consequences of “lawless” spaces?Outlaw Ocean is this year’s selection for the STS1Book programme. In this episode, Dr Michel Wahome talks about why she recommended the book for our community. She points to some of the many ways it can be used to explore key concepts in STS, such as actor-network theory and social-technical imaginaries. She also considers the relationship between lawlessness and entrepreneurship as a key theme in innovation studies and science policy.For more about the STS1Book programme:https://www.ucl.ac.uk/sts/about-sts/sts1book-programme FeaturingIntervieweeDr Michel Wahome, UCL Lecturer in Science and Technology Studieshttps://profiles.ucl.ac.uk/86440HostProfessor Joe Cain, UCL Professor of History and Philosophy of Biologyhttps://ucl.ac.uk/sts/cain Music credits“Rollin At 5,” by Kevin MacLeodhttps://filmmusic.io/song/5000-rollin-at-5Ecossaise in E-flat by Kevin MacLeodhttps://filmmusic.io/song/3700-ecossaise-in-e-flat-woo-86- Podcast informationWeAreSTS is a production of the Department of Science and Technology Studies (STS) at University College London (UCL). To find out more, or to leave feedback about the show:https://ucl.ac.uk/sts/podcast

What is dark matter? Mary Westover investigates, featuring insights from Dr. Joe McLaughlin and Dr. Marcello Messina. She visits the Gran Sasso Laboratory in Italy to understand how a research lab sunk deep into a mountain and holding a giant tank of liquid Xenon holds the promise of evidence for this most elusive substance. From the lab's mountain setting to the complex physics involved, this episode provides a deep dive into one of physics’ most perplexing questions. This episode is a practical project submitted by Mary Westover as part of her UCL degree, MSc Science Communication. She wrote, researched, produced, and starred in the production. For more about UCL’s Science Communication MSc, visit: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/graduate/taught-degrees/science-communication-msc Featuring Interviewer and researcher Mary Westover https://uk.linkedin.com/in/mary-westover Interviewees Joseph McLaughlin https://www.hep.ucl.ac.uk/people/mugshot.shtml?id=joemcl Marcello Messina https://www.gssi.it/people/professors/lectures-physics/item/12461-messina-marcello Host Professor Joe Cain, UCL Professor of History and Philosophy of Biology https://ucl.ac.uk/sts/cain Music credits Mary used copyright-free music from Pixabay. WeAreSTS Music credits “Rollin At 5,” by Kevin MacLeod https://filmmusic.io/song/5000-rollin-at-5 Podcast information WeAreSTS is a production of the Department of Science and Technology Studies (STS) at University College London (UCL). To find out more, or to leave feedback about the show: https://ucl.ac.uk/sts/podcast

Well, the wait is over. The time has come. Season 2 of WeAreSTS is on its way. This season we’ll feature some cracking projects from STS students. And we’ll have conversations with all sorts of folks here in the department. I’m gonna sneak in a few bonuses too, just to add that tiny bit of sparkle. WeAreSTS is your window into science and technology studies. You know that science and technology don’t live inside isolated bubbles. You know they’re shaped by all sorts of forces and constraints. STS explores that interplay between science and context. For some, it’s money and politics. For others, it’s geography and imagination. For others still maybe it’s social and cultural biases; the role of age, class and gender; or the way ideas give us certain world views that can be hard to shake. It’s a complex subject “science in context”. That gives us huge amounts to explore. WeAreSTS is designed to help you join us in what we do. Maybe that’s science policy, innovation studies, or communication. Maybe it’s the hunt for social justice. Maybe you’re fascinated with history, or philosophy, or sociology and you’re looking for big themes to give it all some focus. For me, what works is “Darwin and Dinosaurs” but my-oh-my the big themes are changing fast, and let me tell you, some of those new ideas are mind-blowing. Season 2 of WeAreSTS begins soon. Listen out for the first episode in early September. Now’s the time to charge your batteries. To tap that subscribe button. And to tell your friends. Hey, even tell your mum: WeAreSTS Season 2 is on its way.

Hollywood chooses to portray experts in particular – sometimes peculiar – ways. Those choices have profound impacts on how audiences think about subjects as diverse as dinosaurs, robots, and climate catastrophes. But do those portrayals also change the way we think about the experts themselves and the process of expertise? Does Hollywood play some kind of under-the-table role in teaching us which experts to trust? That’s the theme for today’s podcast. Today, we listen in on a conversation between three experts here in STS who study science policy making as a process. They talk about a couple of films in which experts play starring roles. To get things going, they concentrate on two films: “Films like Don’t Look Up,” the star-studded 2021 Netflix film directed by Adam McKay. And, “2012,” the 2009 Sony Pictures apocalypse film directed by Roland Emmerich. In some ways, these films are very different. But in key ways, they’re remarkably similar. The conversation you’ll hear was organised and led by Haes Seung Chung, one of the students in this year’s STSNewsRoom. She keeps things moving, and she keeps our panellists on their toes. In fact, she’s ready to go. So, I’m just hand the microphone over to her, and I’ll see you on the other side.   Featuring   Interviewer and researcher Haes Seung Chung, STS 2023 student in our integrated BSc programme   Interviewees Professor Jack Stilgoe, UCL Professor of Science and Technology Policy Dr Saheli Datta Burton, UCL Lecturer (Teaching) in Science Policy (Responsible Research and Innovation) Dr Stephen Hughes, UCL Lecturer in Science, Technology and Society   Host Professor Joe Cain, UCL Professor of History and Philosophy of Biology https://ucl.ac.uk/sts/cain   Music credits   Intro and Exit music “Rollin At 5,” by Kevin MacLeod https://filmmusic.io/song/5000-rollin-at-5 License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0   Music within the episode Endless Dessert- Steven Beddall: Endless Desert by Steven Bedlam | Artlist.io   Podcast information   WeAreSTS is a production of the Department of Science and Technology Studies (STS) at University College London (UCL). To find out more, or to leave feedback about the show: https://ucl.ac.uk/sts/podcast

Ever heard of climate change comedy? Here’s the idea. The climate crisis dominates our news. But more and more, messages about action are ignored. Fatalism is growing. People seem frozen with the scale of the problem. It’s clear we need new ways to tackle these tough conversations. In this episode, STS’s very own Grace Tyrrell explores the growing niche of climate change comedy. With her guest Dr Matt Winning, an environmental researcher and comedian, Grace shows us how climate change comedy works and she explores the question of how these two ideas can fit together. Grace is finishing her master’s degree in science communication with us. After interviewing Matt Winning about the theory, Grace asks a set of fellow students about the practice. Does climate change comedy work? Do it inform the head? Does it engage the heart? Does it lead keep up momentum in climate action? Thanks to her guest, Dr Matt Winning and to fellow STS students Joe Woof, Steph Hawes, Megan Thomas, Gusti Ayu Ismayanti, Annabel Bourne for their time. Grace completed this podcast episode as part of the Podcast Sprint 2023, run by Professor Joe Cain for STS students.   Further information on climate change comedy Is climate change a laughing matter? (Carroll-Monteil 2021) https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13504622.2022.2113764 Climate Strange - Dr Matt Winning, TEDx Talk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPCEqPdEY1A&t=281s   Featuring Interviewer and researcher Grace Tyrrell, UCL Science Communication MSc Class of 2023 https://www.linkedin.com/in/gracetyrrell/ @gracescicomm   Interviewees Dr Matt Winning, Senior Research Fellow at UCL Institute for Sustainable Resources https://www.ucl.ac.uk/bartlett/sustainable/people/mr-matthew-winning https://mattwinning.com/about/   Science Communication MSc Class of 2023 Joe Woof, Steph Hawes, Megan Thomas, Gusti Ayu Ismayanti, Annabel Bourne   Host Professor Joe Cain, UCL Professor of History and Philosophy of Biology https://ucl.ac.uk/sts/cain   Music credits (show) “Rollin At 5,” by Kevin MacLeod https://filmmusic.io/song/5000-rollin-at-5   Music credits (within the episode) “Accralate,” by Kevin MacLeod https://filmmusic.io/song/3336-accralate License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0   Podcast information WeAreSTS is a production of the Department of Science and Technology Studies (STS) at University College London (UCL). To find out more, or to leave feedback about the show: https://ucl.ac.uk/sts/podcast Editing by Grace Tyrrell Post production by Professor Joe Cain   Listen to Science Refresh Science Refresh is a bi-weekly podcast bringing you a fresh take on the latest in science and technology. Join hosts Grace, Meg and Dom as they take you through the stories that you won’t have seen in the headlines. https://open.spotify.com/show/0aS44BehxWXfFLpm5FgrcM?si=fe84b76444ce45d2&nd=1