Last week, Kim Dearing talked to MADE Cymru students as part of their Research Methods module. The session focused on the societal impact of technology and the ethics of Artificial Intelligence (AI). She explored some of the ethical dimensions relating to AI as decision makers; AI as vehicles for labour replacement, and; AI in society. Generally, adding some ethical thought and insight into these three current debates.
Kim, a social scientist, recently completed a PhD at Cardiff University which was in social policy. Her research area was in employment and labour disadvantage – questioning what work is, asks why it is so important and looking at the broader concepts of work and citizenship (rather than work solely for financial gain). Part of this also focused on the moral and ethical dimensions of how people find their place in society when the mainstream notion of work is not available to them.
After her PhD, she took a research post working on an international research programme that explored technological change, AI, education, and work. Although this post recently finished, it was the ethical dimensions of change that were of a particular interest.
Kim is also a lecturer at The Open University in Social Sciences and has published three peer reviewed journal articles (links at the bottom). She is also a lecturer at Cardiff Met University and a Freelance Policy Advisor for Social Firms Wales.
Kim Dearing is one of many guest lecturers who has been invited to talk to MADE Cymru students.
She says, “I really enjoyed talking to the MADE Cymru students on Friday. With the use of AI increasing, so are the debates around the ethical implications. It is interesting to consider the sustainability of AI alongside the long-term integration in the current ‘human’ workforce.”
Graham Howe, MADE Cymru lecturer says, “I think these considerations are so important as we consider the use of AI, and it’s use is going to become more and more prevalent in our daily lives. What are some of the implications of this AI enabled world, and our place in it?”
MADE Cymru’s Innovation Management and Upskilling for Industry 4.0 courses are busy enrolling students for a Feb 4th start. Click here for more information (please note this is the last time the courses will be fully funded).
Kim’s work:
Dearing, K. (2021). Work Aspirations, Intellectual Disability and ‘Cruelling out’ the Mark in the Job Club. The Sociological Review. [Online] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/00380261211044619
Dearing, K. (2021). ‘Exploring a non-universal understanding of waged work and its consequences: sketching out employment activation for people with an intellectual disability. Evidence & Policy, 17(2), pp. 261-277. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1332/174426421X16140992285741
Dearing, K. (2020). ‘Not Worth the Minimum Wage?’ Unpacking the Complexities of Intellectual Disability and its Intersection with Employment Structures. Scandinavian Journal of Disability Research, 22(1), pp. 360–370. DOI: https://doi.org/10.16993/sjdr.729
‘Not wanted here’ Evidence & Policy blog: https://evidenceandpolicyblog.co.uk/2021/06/16/not-wanted-here-the-bleak-marginalised-reality-of-how-evidence-informs-employment-policy-for-people-with-a-learning-disability-in-england-and-wales/