The field of artificial intelligence is undergoing a significant shift, with a growing focus on critical examinations of its impact on society and culture. Researchers are developing new frameworks for understanding the intersection of AI, ethics, and sustainability, and are highlighting the need for a more nuanced approach to the development and deployment of AI systems. A key direction in this research is the recognition that AI is not a neutral technology, but rather a reflection of the societal and cultural contexts in which it is developed and used. This is leading to a greater emphasis on the need for diverse perspectives and critical examination of the values and biases embedded in AI systems.

Noteworthy papers in this area include: The paper 'On the (im)possibility of sustainable artificial intelligence' for its critical examination of the sustainability of AI systems and its argument that the pursuit of sustainable AI may be misguided. The paper 'Synthetic media and computational capitalism: towards a critical theory of artificial intelligence' for its development of a critical theory of artificial intelligence and its introduction of the concept of the algorithmic condition.