ABSTRACT
This chapter investigates the ideological roots of the concept of intelligence shape throughout its history and political contexts the current uses and developments in the field of AI. The AI imaginaries are rooted in the old theories of eugenics, in mythologies and connotations that shaped our understandings since Plato and Homer. The way we understand intelligence speaks about what we think is humanity and its future and determines how engineers create AI systems and new applications, as well as their adoption in law, administration, civic life, and education. At a time of multiple existential crises, it is important to understand how the concept of “intelligence” is placing AI in an ideological and political position. This chapter reflects on these political roots and investigates how these positions are determining how data is collected, used, and aggregated for extremely influential decisions for people’s lives.
