See Spot [Dance]

Keywords: techno-determinism, miliitary-industrial complex, environmental history, aesthetics, automation, resource geographies, media
Session Type: Virtual Paper Abstract
Day: Saturday
Session Start / End Time: 2/26/2022 02:00 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada)) - 2/26/2022 03:20 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada))
Room: Virtual 66

Abstract

Fully autonomous robots have been forthcoming for decades now. These ever-more sophisticated technologies are imbued with a few distinct narratives—from dystopian anxieties of human replacement, to ‘realistic’ claims of continued uneven human-robot collaboration, and on to radical hopes for a fully-automated, luxurious utopia. I want to parse the spectrum of this polarized future-scape by looking at its implicit center. Who are these realists and what exactly is it they’re offering? How does their vision become real-ized? How does real become practical? And what happens at the sites where the practical comes into contact with the radical?

I’ll start with Spot, an autonomous robot dog that, since its leashed release, has become perhaps the most well-known commercial robot ever. Spot’s developer, Boston Dynamics, touts its quadruped’s ability to explore tunnels, inspect industrial facilities, surveil property, support first responders, and, amongst other things—dance. Where did Spot come from? How are they being interpolated in and with an already full world? And what is reproduced in their wake? I’ll interview Spot’s many handlers: backers, creators, and competitors; university researchers and students; media professionals; industry users—including nuclear power plants, oil rigs, police departments, insurance companies, contractors, and militaries; as well as local, regional and national governments. In other words, anyone involved in the development, marketing, research and implementation of Spot.