Human Computers : A history of labour-intensive computing. Followed by 6 self-defence protocols

Human Computers : Une histoire de l’Informatique Laborieuse. Suivi de Six protocoles d’autodéfense, by the artistic collective RYBN.ORG. Published by Les Éditions UV. Since 2013, RYBN.ORG has been investigating the phenomenon of ‘Labour-Intensive Computing’, the (often covert) ways Artificial Intelligence and computational processes incorporate human labour and experiment with new forms of work management. Using the organisation of labour as a critical lens, the artists seek to untangle the intricate web that binds computing to capitalism. Their hypothesis is that human labour, far from being obsolete, remains firmly at the heart of automatised processes, from Gaspard de Prony’s first calculating “machine” in 1793 to today’s large language models. I loved Human Computers and hope it will eventually be translated into English. We would all benefit from perspectives on technology that move beyond the familiar English-speaking, US- and UK-centred narratives. That perspective does not…