Kate Crawford and Kate Crawford have embarked on a research project called Calculating Empires that explores the evolution of technology and human social structures since 1500. The project features a large-scale visualization that traces how technical and social structures have co-evolved over the course of five centuries.
The goal of Calculating Empires is to provide a deeper understanding of the contemporary period by placing it within a wider historical context of ideas, devices, infrastructures, and systems of power. The research visualizes technological patterns of colonialism, militarization, automation, and enclosure since 1500, demonstrating how these forces have continued to exert control and dominance.
By uncovering these imperial pathways, Calculating Empires offers insight into the current technological landscape and how it is interconnected with historical legacies of power. By studying how past empires have utilized technology to further their agendas, we can better understand the conditions that have led to the current state of empire.
Another related project that explores this intersection is Anatomy of an AI System. Through these research efforts, we can gain a more comprehensive understanding of how technology has been intertwined with structures of power and control throughout history.