C8801 - POLITICA DELLA TECNOLOGIA (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

The course explores how artificial intelligence technologies are changing society and the categories used to describe and understand it. These technologies cannot, therefore, be considered as a set of technical procedures that are neutral to class, race, and gender. By applying the tools of conceptual and constitutional history, technology is investigated as a historical, political and social process that constantly reconfigures power relations. The course will also analyse how technology redefines fundamental modern political concepts such as citizenship, the individual, domination, democracy, governance, and the state. By the end of the course, students will: - acquire the knowledge necessary to understand the political nature of technology, as well as its place within the social relationships in which it is produced and applied; - adopt a critical stance on technological development; - be able to make historically informed judgements on current technologies.

Course contents

The course examines the political meanings of technology, with particular attention to the ways in which the algorithmic complex—encompassing not only algorithms but also artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, protocols, platforms, the cloud, and interfaces—is reshaping some of the fundamental concepts of modern politics.The course aims to investigate the ways in which the algorithmic complex imposes forms of power that are immanent to social relations and capable of organizing and disciplining individual behaviour. This occurs whenever people use social networks, interact with digital platforms, or engage in any context in which algorithmic rationality becomes the constitutive form of social and political relations.The omnipresence of algorithmic power calls for a radical rethinking of key concepts in modern political discourse, including the individual, society, citizenship, democracy, justice, the state, governance, and domination.

The course will address the following topics:

1) The algorithm as a mathematical tool and as a political technology;

2) Communication and information technologies and surveillance capitalism.

3) Algorithmic rationality and the breakdown of the modern concept of the individual;

4) How the algorithmic complex establishes a new dimension of power;

5) Programmed hierarchies: design, bias, role, discrimination;

6) The public sphere in the age of algorithmic communication and the constant connection of individuals;

7) Outlines of an algorithmic governance of the social. Reality and myth of the black box society;

8) Politics with social networks, the politics of social networks;

9) Digital Platforms and Transformations of labour;

10) Time, equality and freedom in the age of platforms;

11) How the algorithmic complex transforms the state: crisis of political legitimation and the platform state.

Students with SLD or temporary or permanent disabilities. It is suggested that they get in touch as soon as possible with the relevant University office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en) and with the lecturer in order to seek together the most effective strategies for following the lessons and/or preparing for the examination.

Readings/Bibliography

1.

Luciano Floridi, La quarta rivoluzione. Come l’infosfera sta trasformando il mondo, Milano, Raffaello Cortina, 2017.

Isabella Consolati, Storia concettuale e tecnologia, in: ATTI E RASSEGNA TECNICA, vol. LXXVI, 2022, pp. 26-31. Disponibile all'indirizzo: https://iris.polito.it/retrieve/7879b571-b53b-4a89-bd02-d396f0042fe6/Consolati_Storia%20concettuale%20e%20tecnologia.pdf

Teresa Numerico, Intelligenza artificiale e algoritmi: datificazione, politica, epistemologia, in «CONSECUTIO RERUM», vol. 3, n. 6, Aprile 2019, pp. 241-271. Disponibile all'indirizzo: http://www.consecutio.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/8-numerico.pdf

2.

Nick Couldry - Ulises A. Mejias, Il prezzo della connessione. Come i dati colonizzano la nostra vita e se ne appropriano per far soldi, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2022.

Massimo Airoldi, Machine Habitus. Sociologia degli algoritmi, Roma, Luiss University Press, 2024.

3.

Remo Bodei, Dominio e sottomissione. Schiavi, animali, macchine, Intelligenza Artificiale, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2019.

Ed Finn, Che cosa vogliono gli algoritmi? L'immaginazione nell'era dei computer, Torino, Einaudi, 2018.

4.

Safyia Umoja Noble, Algoritmi dell'oppressione. Come i motori di ricerca favoriscono il razzismo, Napoli, Tamu Edizioni, 2025.

Katy Crawford, Né intelligente né artificiale. Il lato oscuro dell’IA, Bologna, Il mulino, 2021.

4.

Shoshana Zuboff, Il capitalismo della sorveglianza. Il futuro dell’umanità nell’era dei nuovi poteri, Roma, Luiss, 2020.

Isabella Consolati, Per una semantica del potere algoritmico. Prospettive e problemi, in «Filosofia politica», 2/2023, pp. 329-344.

Maurizio Ricciardi, Ordine politico e costellazione algoritmica: la tecnologia come progetto d’ordine, in Scienza & Politica. Per Una Storia Delle Dottrine, 36(70), 2024, pp. 15–31. Disponibile all'indirizzo: https://scienzaepolitica.unibo.it/article/view/19862/18050

5.

Salvo Vaccaro, Gli algoritmi della politica, Eleuthera, 2020

Mauro Calise, Fortunato Musella, Il principe digitale, Bari-Roma, Laterza, 2019.

Daniela Tafani, Governi privati e intelligenza artificiale, preprint, 2025: https://zenodo.org/records/15522002.

6.

Cathy O'Neal, Armi di distruzione matematica. Come i big data aumentano la disuguaglianza e minacciano la democrazia, Milano, Bompiani, 2017.

Nello Cristianini, La scorciatoia.Come le macchine sono diventate intelligenti senza pensare in modo umano, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2023.

7.

Luisa Torchia, Lo Stato digitale. Una introduzione, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2023.

Damiano Palano, Bubble Democracy. La fine del pubblico e la nuova polarizzazione, Brescia, Scholé, 2020.

8.

Nick Srnicek, Capitalismo digitale. Google, Facebook, Amazon e la nuova economia del web, Roma, Luiss, 2017.

Antonio A. Casilli, Schiavi del clic. Perché lavoriamo tutti per il nuovo capitalismo? Milano, Feltrinelli, 2020.

9.

Matteo Pasquinelli, Nell'occhio dell'algoritmo. Storia e critica dell'intelligenza artificiale, Roma, Carrocci, 2025.

Alessandro Delfanti, Il magazzino. Lavoro e macchine ad Amazon, Torino, Codice edizioni, 2023.

10.

Judy Wajcman, La tirannia del tempo. L'accelerazione della vita nel capitalismo digitale, Roma, Treccani, 2020

Helga Nowotny, Le macchine di Dio. Gli algoritmi predittivi e l'illusione del controllo, Roma Luiss University Press, 2022.

Maurizio Ricciardi, Il presente assoluto. Macchine, rivoluzioni e algoritmi, in Into the Black Box (ed) Capitalismo 4.0. Genealogia della rivoluzione digitale, Milano, Meltemi, 2021, pp. 93-110.

11.

Marzia Vaccari, Appunti di femminismo digitale #2. Algoritmi e intelligenza artificiale, Independently published (20 febbraio 2021)

Francesco Striano, Violenza virtuale. Vita digitale e dolore reale, Milano, Il Saggiatore, 2024.

Paola Rudan, Riproduzione sociale e tecnologie del dominio, in Into the Black Box (ed) Capitalismo 4.0. Genealogia della rivoluzione digitale, Milano, Meltemi, 2021, pp. 75-92.

Paola Rudan, Il problema del codice: differenza, identità e riproduzione nell’età degli algoritmi, in «Scienza & Politica. Per Una Storia Delle Dottrine», 36(70), 2024, pp. 65–81. Disponibile all'indirizzo: https://scienzaepolitica.unibo.it/article/view/19861/18040

12.

David Lyon, La cultura della sorveglianza. Come la società del controllo ci ha reso tutti controllori, Roma, Luiss University Press, 2018.

Elena Esposito, Comunicazione artificiale. Come gli algoritmi producono intelligenza sociale, Milano, Egea, 2022.

Teaching methods

Lectures with discussion of the most relevant concepts.

Assessment methods

1) Attending students are required to write a paper of at least 2500 words, using the materials and notes from the lectures and the texts indicated in one of the thematic points (excluding point 1) of the bibliography

2) Non-attending students are required to write a paper of at least 3500 words, using the texts indicated in one of the other thematic points indicatd in the bibliography.

Assessment will be based on:

- knowledge of the chosen texts;

- the ability to summarise and critically analyse the fundamental themes and concepts;

- the linguistic and conceptual precision demonstrated.

Assessment criteria:

Mastery of language and in-depth knowledge of the subject matter, as well as the ability to present the contents of the chosen texts adequately and critically, will lead to a good or excellent grade.

Acceptable language use and the ability to summarise the contents of the selected texts will result in a satisfactory or fair grade.

Insufficient linguistic competence, or fragmentary knowledge of the chosen topic or the contents of the selected texts, will result in failure of the exam.

All papers must be sent in Word format to maurizio.ricciardi@unibo.it at least seven days before the exam date indicated in AlmaEsami.

A limited, declared, and non-substantive use of artificial intelligence is permitted for support activities such as summarising or rephrasing. The substantive use of AI to produce any part of the assessed work is not permitted. Accordingly, papers must go beyond merely summarising the assigned readings. They are expected to include properly referenced quotations (with page numbers), close textual analysis, and a clear, well-developed argument.

The examination does not include an oral part. The grade for the paper will be announced prior to registration and students can inform the lecturer by e-mail if they do not accept it. In this case the lecturer will indicate which points of the paper were unsatisfactory and it will be possible to revise the text.

A file with useful information for drafting the paper will be available at virtuale.unibo.it.

It should be noted that any use of AI in violation of the University Policy may result in the annulment of the examination. Brief supplementary oral interviews may be conducted on a random basis to verify the effective mastery of the contents of the papers.

Students with SLD or temporary or permanent disabilities. It is necessary to contact the relevant University office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en) with ample time in advance: the office will propose some adjustments, which must in any case be submitted 15 days in advance to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of these in relation to the teaching objectives.

Teaching tools

Powerpoint. If possible, essays that are more difficult to find will be made available at virtuale.unibo.it

Office hours

See the website of Maurizio Ricciardi