Lecture as part of the anniversary “60 years of ELIZA, 50 years of computer criticism”

The publication in 1976 of Joseph Weizenbaum’s book Computer Power and Human Reason marked a high-water mark in early critiques of artificial intelligence and the computer scientists promoting it. At the same time, his book appeared in the midst of considerable pessimism about the supposed inescapable power of large technological systems. In his talk, historian W. Patrick Mc McCray will explore the background of these critiques as well as the history of Weizenbaum’s influential book—which has its 50th anniversary this year. Along the way, McCray will consider Weizenbaum’s influence on expert and public debates about what computers—and computer scientists—should and shouldn’t do, critiques which are even more salient today.