Androids, Spirits and Chatbots: Historicizing AI Writing

March 14, 2024 | 4:30pm | MA in Digital Humanities Lounge Rm 5307 & online

“Androids, Spirits and Chatbots: Historicizing AI Writing”

Annette Vee, Associate Professor of English, University of Pittsburgh

Poster for Annette Vee, "Androids, Spirits and Chatpots: Historicizing AI Writing"

Generative AI platforms such as ChatGPT have suddenly thrust the automation of writing into the public spotlight. The machine learning techniques behind Large Language Models such as the GPT series may be new; however, for centuries, humans have attempted to automate writing using mechanical, spiritual, and logical means. The automation of writing parallels a longer history of automation, yet with a twist: each of these attempts to automate writing also implicated a kind of artificial human intelligence. Writing is uniquely human, and as such, it has served as a touchstone for scientific and literary imaginations focused on replicating human intelligence. This presentation puts current conversations about AI writing in historical context with 18th century androids, 19th century spiritualism, and 20th century computer scientists to probe both what writing meant in previous eras as well as dominant assumptions of what it meant to be human in these eras. Attendees of the talk will come away with an understanding of: current Large Language Models driving generative AI writing plus how they do and don’t replicate human intelligence; historical contexts for the attempts to automate writing; and open research questions and pedagogical challenges and opportunities surrounding writing in the age of generative AI.

Co-Sponsored by the MA Program in Digital Humanities, the Teaching and Learning Center, and the Ph.D. Program in English

Online registration: http://cuny.is/annettevee

Co-Working December 7th

As the semester winds down, let’s work together to check things off the to-do lists we all have–or take some time to make to-do lists!

The OpenLab Team is hosting a co-working session On Thursday, December 7th, 2:30-3:30PM. Join us in what we hope is a welcoming space that helps as you focus on accomplishing everything you need to finish. Bring whatever you want to work on, whether it be OpenLab related or not. We’ll bring bring work, too, plus some good energy for checking things off your to-do list.

You can work silently in the main Zoom room or move into a breakout room to talk with a collaborator or with one of our team members if you have specific questions we can help you with. 

Please share this opportunity with colleagues and students–all are welcome. And save the date for our next co-working session, on Friday, December 15th at

We hope this co-working session is useful for you–and let us know how else we can help!

Photo credit: “Working together again” by Nick via Flickr is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 Deed

Co-Working August 18

Triplets” by JillyAnnaJoy via Flickr CC BY-NC 2.0

Fall semester begins on August 25th. One week before, on Friday, August 18th from 12:30 P.M. to 1:30 PM, join us join us for a pre-semester co-working session. We’re hoping this welcoming space helps as you focus on accomplishing everything you need to prepare for the start of the semester. Bring whatever you want to work on, whether it be OpenLab related like course prep or getting your portfolio in order, or other work-related tasks like reading through all the emails, filling out forms, or completing a required training . We’ll bring bring work, too, plus some good energy for checking things off your to-do list.

You can work silently in the main Zoom room or move into a breakout room to talk with a collaborator or with one of our team members if you have specific questions we can help you with. 

We hope this co-working session is useful for you–and let us know how else we can help!

Co-Working May 23

Twins” by Todd Petit via Flickr CC BY-NC 2.0

On Tuesday, May 23rd from 1:30 P.M. to 3:30 PM, join us join us for the final co-working session of the Spring. We’re hoping this welcoming space helps as you focus on finishing everything for the end of the semester. If you’re teaching, bring your grading! Or invite a student to join so you can co-work as they finish their project or study for that last exam. You bring the work, we’ll bring the friendly presence in the Zoom session (plus we’ll bring work, too).

You can work silently in the main Zoom room or move into a breakout room to talk with a collaborator or with one of our team members if you have specific questions we can help you with. 

Finals end on Tuesday, May 23, and grades are due Friday, May 26th. We hope this co-working session is useful for you–and let us know how else we can help!

More Co-Working Sessions!

springtime” by willi_bremen via Flickr CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

The OpenLab team, under the umbrella of Open Pedagogy on the OpenLab, is hosting co-working sessions each Tuesday through the end of the semester.

This week, like last week’s, is open to anyone: students, staff, and faculty. Join the co-working session via Zoom anytime in the 1:30-3:30 co-working hours. We will work together silently, and can open breakout rooms for conversations or questions.

Next week’s session, on Tuesday, May 16, 1:30-3:30, is focused on students, in anticipation of finals week beginning. Please spread the word!

In the final week, faculty are invited to join for some time to work on responding to student work, grading, and finishing the work of the semester.

Like the idea of coworking and the related idea of body doubling but can’t make it on a Tuesday? Suggest a date and time for other sessions by adding a comment on this post or by reaching out via email to OpenLab@citytech.cuny.edu.

Co-Working Tuesday!

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Pollination Hypnosis” by Wayne S. Grazio via Flickr CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Reminder: this co-working session is tomorrow, Tuesday, April 18th!

The last few weeks of the semester are hard not only for both students but also for faculty members, and we believe we can get through this together. Join the OpenLab team and other colleagues to work together on whatever is still on your plate on April 18th. The Zoom room will be open from 1:30 P.M. to 3:30 P.M. Drop in for a little while or stay for the full 2 hours: use the space as you need and enjoy being supported by faculty members who are also working to push through and finish the semester. 

We will have spaces available for small group discussions if anyone wants, while the main room will stay open as the silent co-working space. 

No registration is needed: when it’s time, join the co-working session

Like the idea of coworking and the related idea of body doubling but can’t make it on Tuesday? Suggest a date and time for our next session by adding a comment on this post or by reaching out via email to OpenLab@citytech.cuny.edu.

Co-Working Session – April 18th, 2023

Pollination Hypnosis” by Wayne S. Grazio via Flickr CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Do you need a push to get through the rest of the semester? Join us on April 18th for the first OpenLab co-working session! 

The last few weeks of the semester are hard not only for both students but also for faculty members, and we believe we can go through this together. Join the OpenLab team and other colleagues to work together on whatever is still on your plate on April 18th. The Zoom room will be open from 1:30 P.M. to 3:30 P.M. Drop in for a little while or stay for the full 2 hours: use the space as you need and enjoy being supported by faculty members who are also working to push through and finish the semester. 

We will have spaces available for small group discussions if anyone wants, while the main room will stay open as the silent co-working space. 

No registration is needed: when it’s time, join the co-working session

March events CUNY-wide

Crocuses” by Peter Stenzel via Flickr CC BY-ND 2.0

The CUNY-wide group of leaders from the centers for teaching and learning, call CITA (CUNY Innovative Teaching Academy) shares the following upcoming events for the month of March. If you attend any and want to share information or ideas with colleagues here at City Tech, please consider adding them to this Open Pedagogy on the Open Lab site.

You can also find out more about these events and others in the CITA Newsletter.

CFP: CUNY Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access Conference

You’ve likely seen this call for abstracts in your email and in other places you see announcements:

CUNY will be hosting its next Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access Conference on March 30 and 31, 2023, the theme of which will be The Illusion of Inclusion – Collaborative Solutions for Performative Diversity. The conference is seeking an array of solutions within the CUNY context. Proposals may be based on research, teaching or practice, and designed to spark engagement and discussion. Proposals that include collaborations with CUNY staff and/or students are encouraged. Topics may include: From Data to Action; Disability Inclusion; Designing Inclusive Pedagogies; Organizational Equity – Systems, People, Culture; Physical and Mental Health Pre- & Post-Quarantine: Our New Syndemic Normal. 

Are there ways you see your engagement with open pedagogy as the basis for a proposal for this conference? Does your work on the OpenLab grapple with the conference theme? Would you be interested in sharing your abstract or presentation materials on the OpenLab, either here on Open Pedagogy on the OpenLab or in your portfolio or other space? The OpenLab team is committed to prioritizing inclusion, diversity, equity, and access, and we hope to amplify this work here at City Tech, at CUNY, and beyond.

Event: Acknowledging Neurodiversity and Removing Barriers for Autistic College Students (ACS)

Universal Design for Learning
Acknowledging
Neurodiversity and Removing
Barriers for Autistic College
Students (ACS)

JUNE 15, 2022
12:00-1:00 PM

Project Reach
Kartika Kumari, Gloria Livai, and
Sally Izquierdo

Register here: https://forms.office.com/r/erfdvUU05N  

On Behalf of the Queens College Center for Teaching and Learning & Queens College Project Reach (QCPR) 

Please join us as we embark on another journey of our continuing discussion revolving around Universal Design Learning. 

Over the past decade, there has been a substantial increase in the number of Autistic College students (ACS) enrolling in postsecondary education. However, there are distinct challenges faced by ACS and neurodivergent students in their path to graduation. We will discuss learner variability and some of the difficulties that may be experienced by students and instructors. We will also describe how both knowledge of neurodiversity and use of principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) may create a supportive, inclusive learning environment for all students, which may improve student outcomes. 

This event will be virtual (via Zoom) from 12 noon to 1:00 pm on June 15th, 2022. Register for the session here: https://forms.office.com/r/erfdvUU05N  

For event and presenter information visit https://pokudl.commons.gc.cuny.edu/acknowledging-neurodiversity/ If you have any questions, please reach out to CTLOnline@qc.cuny.edu