James E. Dobson
@jeddobson.bsky.social
Associate Professor of English and Creative Writing at Dartmouth College. Author of The Birth of Computer Vision (Minnesota), Critical Digital Humanities (Illinois), and co-author of Moonbit (punctum) and Perceptron (punctum). American Literature, ML/AI/DH
Reposted by James E. Dobson
This recording captures my talk on “Genre and GenAI” at Sciences Po last week. This is work toward a formal and material critique of instruction-fine tuned models that present what I call the “instructional-conversational” genre. [INST]
La vidéo de la présentation de @jeddobson.bsky.social lors du séminaire du médialab est en ligne !
Une discussion autour des normes, idéologies et attentes intégrées dans les architectures linguistiques contemporaines.
A regarder dès maintenant sur Vimeo 👇
Une discussion autour des normes, idéologies et attentes intégrées dans les architectures linguistiques contemporaines.
A regarder dès maintenant sur Vimeo 👇
Genre and GenAI
Abstract : Instruction fine-tuned large language models that power contemporary chatbots should be understood as participating in what I call the instructional-conversational…
vimeo.com
October 21, 2025 at 11:30 AM
This recording captures my talk on “Genre and GenAI” at Sciences Po last week. This is work toward a formal and material critique of instruction-fine tuned models that present what I call the “instructional-conversational” genre. [INST]
Reposted by James E. Dobson
If you’re local stop by!
October 30, 2025 at 3:39 PM
If you’re local stop by!
Reposted by James E. Dobson
Can the human sciences exist w/out the human? Proposals for using AI as human research subjects suggest yes. But @mjcrockett.bsky.social and I respond with, ‘not so fast.’ In fact, silicon subjects say more about the problems of the research paradigm than the promises of AI. 🚨New article, thread 1/
AI Surrogates and illusions of generalizability in cognitive science
Recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) have generated enthusiasm for using AI simulations of human research participants to generate new know…
www.sciencedirect.com
October 21, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Can the human sciences exist w/out the human? Proposals for using AI as human research subjects suggest yes. But @mjcrockett.bsky.social and I respond with, ‘not so fast.’ In fact, silicon subjects say more about the problems of the research paradigm than the promises of AI. 🚨New article, thread 1/
Reposted by James E. Dobson
We write, the “conditions upon which AI tools are built inherently exclude the same people who are already underrepresented in CogSci… AI Surrogates perpetuate an illusion of generalizability where researchers believe these models represent a broader swathe of humanity than they actually do.” 5/
October 21, 2025 at 3:47 PM
We write, the “conditions upon which AI tools are built inherently exclude the same people who are already underrepresented in CogSci… AI Surrogates perpetuate an illusion of generalizability where researchers believe these models represent a broader swathe of humanity than they actually do.” 5/
Reposted by James E. Dobson
La vidéo de la présentation de @jeddobson.bsky.social lors du séminaire du médialab est en ligne !
Une discussion autour des normes, idéologies et attentes intégrées dans les architectures linguistiques contemporaines.
A regarder dès maintenant sur Vimeo 👇
Une discussion autour des normes, idéologies et attentes intégrées dans les architectures linguistiques contemporaines.
A regarder dès maintenant sur Vimeo 👇
Genre and GenAI
Abstract : Instruction fine-tuned large language models that power contemporary chatbots should be understood as participating in what I call the instructional-conversational…
vimeo.com
October 20, 2025 at 8:03 AM
La vidéo de la présentation de @jeddobson.bsky.social lors du séminaire du médialab est en ligne !
Une discussion autour des normes, idéologies et attentes intégrées dans les architectures linguistiques contemporaines.
A regarder dès maintenant sur Vimeo 👇
Une discussion autour des normes, idéologies et attentes intégrées dans les architectures linguistiques contemporaines.
A regarder dès maintenant sur Vimeo 👇
This recording captures my talk on “Genre and GenAI” at Sciences Po last week. This is work toward a formal and material critique of instruction-fine tuned models that present what I call the “instructional-conversational” genre. [INST]
La vidéo de la présentation de @jeddobson.bsky.social lors du séminaire du médialab est en ligne !
Une discussion autour des normes, idéologies et attentes intégrées dans les architectures linguistiques contemporaines.
A regarder dès maintenant sur Vimeo 👇
Une discussion autour des normes, idéologies et attentes intégrées dans les architectures linguistiques contemporaines.
A regarder dès maintenant sur Vimeo 👇
Genre and GenAI
Abstract : Instruction fine-tuned large language models that power contemporary chatbots should be understood as participating in what I call the instructional-conversational…
vimeo.com
October 21, 2025 at 11:30 AM
This recording captures my talk on “Genre and GenAI” at Sciences Po last week. This is work toward a formal and material critique of instruction-fine tuned models that present what I call the “instructional-conversational” genre. [INST]
Reposted by James E. Dobson
A book for our times, DISASTER TOURISM by Rena J. Mosteirin offers readers a gritty view of our darkening world, shifting perspectives and transporting us at a needfully dizzying pace.
Purchase your very own copy of DISASTER TOURISM today at boaeditions.org!
#PubWeek #BoaEditions#PoetryCollection
Purchase your very own copy of DISASTER TOURISM today at boaeditions.org!
#PubWeek #BoaEditions#PoetryCollection
October 16, 2025 at 6:00 PM
A book for our times, DISASTER TOURISM by Rena J. Mosteirin offers readers a gritty view of our darkening world, shifting perspectives and transporting us at a needfully dizzying pace.
Purchase your very own copy of DISASTER TOURISM today at boaeditions.org!
#PubWeek #BoaEditions#PoetryCollection
Purchase your very own copy of DISASTER TOURISM today at boaeditions.org!
#PubWeek #BoaEditions#PoetryCollection
"Your Father Came from a Movie" by @renamosteirin.bsky.social
from her brand new collection, Disaster Tourism. #poetry #poems
from her brand new collection, Disaster Tourism. #poetry #poems
Your Father Came from a Movie
Placing poetry at the crossroads of American life since 1910.
poetrysociety.org
October 15, 2025 at 4:48 PM
"Your Father Came from a Movie" by @renamosteirin.bsky.social
from her brand new collection, Disaster Tourism. #poetry #poems
from her brand new collection, Disaster Tourism. #poetry #poems
"Disaster Tourism" by @renamosteirin.bsky.social from her brand new collection, Disaster Tourism. #poetry #poems
Disaster Tourism
Placing poetry at the crossroads of American life since 1910.
poetrysociety.org
October 15, 2025 at 4:46 PM
"Disaster Tourism" by @renamosteirin.bsky.social from her brand new collection, Disaster Tourism. #poetry #poems
Reposted by James E. Dobson
Pub day for a new book from my favorite poet!
We're thrilled to announce that Rena J. Mosteirin's new poetry collection DISASTER TOURISM is out now! Purchase your copy at boaeditions.org. Swipe for a sneak peek at an excerpt from one of her poems! 📚
#PubDay #NewBook #RenaJMosteirin #PoetryCollection #BoaEditions #DisasterTourism
#PubDay #NewBook #RenaJMosteirin #PoetryCollection #BoaEditions #DisasterTourism
October 14, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Pub day for a new book from my favorite poet!
Reposted by James E. Dobson
That pub day feeling
October 14, 2025 at 12:24 PM
That pub day feeling
Reposted by James E. Dobson
Most of all, I recommend you check out all the incredible articles in this special issue (culturalanalytics.org/issue/12788), with work by Tess McNulty, Laura Chapot, @jeddobson.bsky.social, Alexandre Miller et al, and @katelelkins.bsky.social.
Vol. 10, Issue 3, 2025 | Published by Journal of Cultural Analytics
In this special issue, we bring together scholars from across multiple disciplines to reconsider the intersections of computation and form at this emerging technological and critical moment.
culturalanalytics.org
October 13, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Most of all, I recommend you check out all the incredible articles in this special issue (culturalanalytics.org/issue/12788), with work by Tess McNulty, Laura Chapot, @jeddobson.bsky.social, Alexandre Miller et al, and @katelelkins.bsky.social.
Reposted by James E. Dobson
Excited to share my latest publication, "Generative Aesthetics: On formal stuckness in AI verse." It's published in a special issue in the Journal of Cultural Analytics, expertly edited by Tess McNulty and Laura Chapot, on "Computation and Form, Reconsidered."
culturalanalytics.org/article/1448...
culturalanalytics.org/article/1448...
Generative Aesthetics: On formal stuckness in AI verse | Published in Journal of Cultural Analytics
By Ryan Heuser. This paper examines the formal and aesthetic patterns of AI-generated poems through a series of computational experiments.
culturalanalytics.org
October 13, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Excited to share my latest publication, "Generative Aesthetics: On formal stuckness in AI verse." It's published in a special issue in the Journal of Cultural Analytics, expertly edited by Tess McNulty and Laura Chapot, on "Computation and Form, Reconsidered."
culturalanalytics.org/article/1448...
culturalanalytics.org/article/1448...
Reposted by James E. Dobson
MIT says "NOPE, we stand for peer review, merit, and academic freedom" in reply to the Trump Regime's proposed "compact" with Higher Ed. orgchart.mit.edu/letters/rega...
Regarding the Compact | MIT Organization Chart
orgchart.mit.edu
October 10, 2025 at 2:20 PM
MIT says "NOPE, we stand for peer review, merit, and academic freedom" in reply to the Trump Regime's proposed "compact" with Higher Ed. orgchart.mit.edu/letters/rega...
Reposted by James E. Dobson
Demain, @jeddobson.bsky.social explorera les chatbots IA à travers le prisme du genre conversationnel-didactique.
📍 Rendez-vous à Sciences Po Paris ou en ligne pour suivre le séminaire.
📍 Rendez-vous à Sciences Po Paris ou en ligne pour suivre le séminaire.
Genre and GenAI | médialab Sciences Po
Lors de cette séance de séminaire, James E. Dobson explorera les chatbots alimentés par l'IA à travers le prisme du genre conversationnel-didactique. Sa présentation mettra en lumière les normes, idéo...
medialab.sciencespo.fr
October 6, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Demain, @jeddobson.bsky.social explorera les chatbots IA à travers le prisme du genre conversationnel-didactique.
📍 Rendez-vous à Sciences Po Paris ou en ligne pour suivre le séminaire.
📍 Rendez-vous à Sciences Po Paris ou en ligne pour suivre le séminaire.
Reposted by James E. Dobson
🗓️ Let's talk about the instructional-conversational genre of LLMs with James E. Dobson (@jeddobson.bsky.social), Associate Professor of English and Creative Writing at Dartmouth College, on "Genre and GenAI"!
Tomorrow, 2-4pm (CET), at Sciences Po and online ⤵️
Tomorrow, 2-4pm (CET), at Sciences Po and online ⤵️
📆 Le médialab accueille @jeddobson.bsky.social pour son prochain séminaire, le mardi 7 octobre 2025.
Il explorera les chatbots IA à travers le prisme du genre conversationnel-didactique, en analysant les normes, idéologies et attentes intégrées aux architectures linguistiques contemporaines.
⬇️
Il explorera les chatbots IA à travers le prisme du genre conversationnel-didactique, en analysant les normes, idéologies et attentes intégrées aux architectures linguistiques contemporaines.
⬇️
Genre and GenAI | médialab Sciences Po
Lors de cette séance de séminaire, James E. Dobson explorera les chatbots alimentés par l'IA à travers le prisme du genre conversationnel-didactique. Sa présentation mettra en lumière les normes, idéo...
medialab.sciencespo.fr
October 6, 2025 at 11:46 AM
🗓️ Let's talk about the instructional-conversational genre of LLMs with James E. Dobson (@jeddobson.bsky.social), Associate Professor of English and Creative Writing at Dartmouth College, on "Genre and GenAI"!
Tomorrow, 2-4pm (CET), at Sciences Po and online ⤵️
Tomorrow, 2-4pm (CET), at Sciences Po and online ⤵️
Reposted by James E. Dobson
📆 Le médialab accueille @jeddobson.bsky.social pour son prochain séminaire, le mardi 7 octobre 2025.
Il explorera les chatbots IA à travers le prisme du genre conversationnel-didactique, en analysant les normes, idéologies et attentes intégrées aux architectures linguistiques contemporaines.
⬇️
Il explorera les chatbots IA à travers le prisme du genre conversationnel-didactique, en analysant les normes, idéologies et attentes intégrées aux architectures linguistiques contemporaines.
⬇️
Genre and GenAI | médialab Sciences Po
Lors de cette séance de séminaire, James E. Dobson explorera les chatbots alimentés par l'IA à travers le prisme du genre conversationnel-didactique. Sa présentation mettra en lumière les normes, idéo...
medialab.sciencespo.fr
October 2, 2025 at 11:54 AM
📆 Le médialab accueille @jeddobson.bsky.social pour son prochain séminaire, le mardi 7 octobre 2025.
Il explorera les chatbots IA à travers le prisme du genre conversationnel-didactique, en analysant les normes, idéologies et attentes intégrées aux architectures linguistiques contemporaines.
⬇️
Il explorera les chatbots IA à travers le prisme du genre conversationnel-didactique, en analysant les normes, idéologies et attentes intégrées aux architectures linguistiques contemporaines.
⬇️
Job posting: Critical Artificial Intelligence Librarian at Dartmouth College. searchjobs.dartmouth.edu/postings/83154
Critical Artificial Intelligence Librarian
The Critical Artificial Intelligence Librarian accelerates the Dartmouth Libraries engagement with advanced machine learning technologies and their relevant ethical, practical, and educational implica...
searchjobs.dartmouth.edu
October 3, 2025 at 11:14 AM
Job posting: Critical Artificial Intelligence Librarian at Dartmouth College. searchjobs.dartmouth.edu/postings/83154
Reposted by James E. Dobson
On the Good Fight podcast w substack.com/@yaschamounk I give a quick but careful primer on how modern AI works.
I also chat about our responsibility as machine learning scientists, and what we need to fix to get AI right.
Take a listen and reshare -
www.persuasion.community/p/david-bau
I also chat about our responsibility as machine learning scientists, and what we need to fix to get AI right.
Take a listen and reshare -
www.persuasion.community/p/david-bau
David Bau on How Artificial Intelligence Works
Yascha Mounk and David Bau delve into the “black box” of AI.
www.persuasion.community
October 3, 2025 at 8:58 AM
On the Good Fight podcast w substack.com/@yaschamounk I give a quick but careful primer on how modern AI works.
I also chat about our responsibility as machine learning scientists, and what we need to fix to get AI right.
Take a listen and reshare -
www.persuasion.community/p/david-bau
I also chat about our responsibility as machine learning scientists, and what we need to fix to get AI right.
Take a listen and reshare -
www.persuasion.community/p/david-bau
Looking forward to giving this talk next week! This is work in progress and I’m excited to show it and receive feedback.
📆 Le médialab accueille @jeddobson.bsky.social pour son prochain séminaire, le mardi 7 octobre 2025.
Il explorera les chatbots IA à travers le prisme du genre conversationnel-didactique, en analysant les normes, idéologies et attentes intégrées aux architectures linguistiques contemporaines.
⬇️
Il explorera les chatbots IA à travers le prisme du genre conversationnel-didactique, en analysant les normes, idéologies et attentes intégrées aux architectures linguistiques contemporaines.
⬇️
Genre and GenAI | médialab Sciences Po
Lors de cette séance de séminaire, James E. Dobson explorera les chatbots alimentés par l'IA à travers le prisme du genre conversationnel-didactique. Sa présentation mettra en lumière les normes, idéo...
medialab.sciencespo.fr
October 2, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Looking forward to giving this talk next week! This is work in progress and I’m excited to show it and receive feedback.
Reposted by James E. Dobson
Gave this a closer look today and wow it really benefits from the many hands that touched it. Every point -- every sub-point -- is thoughtfully substantiated by connecting it to multiple discourses in CS and humanities. The rigorous thought at scale, so to speak, is truly impressive.
New preprint on "Computational Hermeneutics," co-authored by too many people to list in one post. TL;DR: GenAI is a cultural technology, and needs to be evaluated in ways that recognize situatedness, plurality, and ambiguity as the conditions of meaning — not noise to be minimized.
Computational Hermeneutics: Evaluating Generative AI as a Cultural Technology
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<div>
<div>
<p>Generative AI (GenAI) systems are increasingly recognized as cultural technologies, yet current evaluation frameworks often treat cul
papers.ssrn.com
September 30, 2025 at 1:42 AM
Gave this a closer look today and wow it really benefits from the many hands that touched it. Every point -- every sub-point -- is thoughtfully substantiated by connecting it to multiple discourses in CS and humanities. The rigorous thought at scale, so to speak, is truly impressive.
Reposted by James E. Dobson
📐 "Beyond Computational Formalism or, Architecture Matters" by James E. Dobson (@jeddobson.bsky.social) examines how neural network architectures materially shape the capacities, outputs, and interpretive possibilities of machine learning models.
culturalanalytics.org/article/1339...
culturalanalytics.org/article/1339...
Beyond Computational Formalism or, Architecture Matters | Published in Journal of Cultural Analytics
By James E. Dobson. This article demonstrates how neural network architectures materially shape the capacities, outputs, and interpretive possibilities of machine learning models.
culturalanalytics.org
September 10, 2025 at 7:37 PM
📐 "Beyond Computational Formalism or, Architecture Matters" by James E. Dobson (@jeddobson.bsky.social) examines how neural network architectures materially shape the capacities, outputs, and interpretive possibilities of machine learning models.
culturalanalytics.org/article/1339...
culturalanalytics.org/article/1339...
Reposted by James E. Dobson
🗓️ We are thrilled to announce the Call for Papers for the conference+journal track of the 5th annual Conference of Computational Literary Studies, May 28-29, 2026, in #Potsdam, #Germany! #CCLS26 #CfP
Submit your article by January 8, 2026, and be part of our big 5-year jubilee edition! 🥳🥳🥳
Submit your article by January 8, 2026, and be part of our big 5-year jubilee edition! 🥳🥳🥳
Call for Papers
jcls.io
September 24, 2025 at 2:33 PM
these are cable management geniuses--how did they do that?
September 23, 2025 at 3:28 PM
these are cable management geniuses--how did they do that?