Review by Choice Review
Katz (currently a fellow in systems biology at Harvard Medical School) has made an auspicious debut in the world of book publishing--that is, if this volume released in late 2020 has predictive value. With a PhD in brain and cognitive sciences from MIT, Katz appears well prepared for this frontal assault on the flexible and nefarious association between whiteness and artificial intelligence--an assault drawing on an admixture of recognizable disciplines (including brain and cognitive sciences) and certain data-rich but theory-poor domains such as, e.g., "predictive policing." Throughout the text Katz helpfully informs the reader what is coming next and how successive chapters comprise a cohesive structure. Strategically placed tables, photos, and illustrations also act as virtual signposts throughout the text. Hence, Katz's core arguments sting as much at the conclusion as when they were introduced, namely, that AI is "a technology that serves whiteness by advancing its imperial and capitalist projects," and that it "performs this function by mimicking the structure of whiteness as an ideology." At a time when the nation is experiencing a festering crisis of racial (in)justice, few descriptions of insidious malfeasance could be as poignant. Aiding the reader in finding additional resources are Katz's meticulous notes, a comprehensive bibliography, and a more than adequate index. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates. Graduate students, faculty, and professionals. --Daniel N. Nelson, Center for Arms Control & Nonproliferation
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
