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The AI Blow-up. How the “Technology of the Future” turned into a political battleground

Until recently, AI was to be found everywhere except for political debates. Almost everyone agreed that AI was the key to future prosperity, and that a thriving society needed more of it. That has changed. These days, concerned citizens protest against data centres build-out. AI’s massive water and electricity footprint links tech policy to issues people worry about, like energy security, housing policy and climate change. AI-generated misinformation and slop disrupts elections, raising alarm. Algorithmic surveillance, too, is no longer a niche issue but one that more and more people push back against.
Date
6 October 2026
Time
17:00
Location
SPUI25

In this event, we trace AI’s journey from a topic for techies and technocrats to the centre of the political spotlight. Whence this shift during the past years? Will the push-back against AI-build-out and policy actually make a difference? And should we expect AI and tech more generally to remain high on the political agenda, or will it recede back into the realm of quiet politics? During this evening we explore different facets of how AI has become a political issue. Have we reached the moment at which society takes back control over tech? Or is that an illusion, given the complexity of the issue, the global reach of tech, and the enormous amounts of money at stake?

Register at SPUI25
About SPUI25

SPUI25 is the academic-cultural podium of Amsterdam. Since 2007, we have been giving scientists, authors, artists and other thinkers the opportunity to shine a light on issues that occupy, inspire or concern them. In cooperation with a large number of academic and cultural partners, we organize between 250 and 300 freely accessible programs per year. These are enriching, often interdisciplinary programs that move between science and culture, fact and fiction.

SPUI25 is one of the UvA-podia in the University Quarter.

View the calendar of events organised by UvA-podia in the University Quarter
SPUI25

Spui 25-27
1012 WX Amsterdam