AI-Powered Care Models and Feminist Critique
The technology sector's new AI models, which promise compassion and empathy, fall short of meeting feminist demands and exploit hidden human labor.
AI models marketed by tech companies in areas such as reproductive health, eldercare, and emotional support fail to solve care crises, instead exploiting hidden human labor and masking systemic problems.
Soft-Faced AI Models
While traditional artificial intelligence was a strategic male fantasy, the new generation of softer models is marketed using feminine and familial terms.
The tech industry is moving into well-intentioned areas like reproductive health and therapy to overcome skepticism toward AI.
The Concept of Artificial Feminist Intelligence
These emotional support and care models are dubbed 'artificial feminist intelligence' and commodify intimate labor.
At the same time, the system completely ignores feminist demands such as labor rights, reproductive justice, and economic redistribution.
Reproductive Health and Femtech
Emergency contraception brands are offering chatbots to fill the gap left by declining sexual health education and restricted abortion access.
Femtech data-driven business models endanger user privacy by turning intimate health questions into value.
Eldercare and Robots
Elder care robots like 'Abi' are being introduced to combat the loneliness of the elderly in overburdened care institutions.
These technologies carry the risk of serving as a cover for the abandonment of inadequate institutional care systems.
Hidden and Exploited Workforce
Behind the technologies lie heavily exploited workers, such as data labelers in Kenya dealing with toxic content.
Meanwhile, workers in Nigeria and India are recording themselves doing housework to train the robots.