The Contentious Politics Of AI

Our network offers a space for those who want to research, study, and make visible (and possible) ways that AI is, and can be, challenged. It is open to all - academics, policy researchers, and activists interested in ways that AI is contested - see details below on how to sign up.

Aims of the Network
At our founding conference in July 2025 we launched the network in order
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Monthly Talks
Our monthly talks are typically held on the third Wednesday of each month
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Contestation updates
Newsletter reporting different types of contestation as they happen
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Articles and commentary
Commentary and articles on contentious politics of AI and related topics
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Join us!

Whether you are an academic, a policy researcher, a trade unionist, or an activist, if you have an interest in pushing back against AI then we want you to get involved.

We have a mailing list to keep up with announcements, events, and research opportunities, and where will also provide a regular newsletter updating on recent episodes, campaigns and events focused on the contestation of AI.

Sign Up Here

Suggested Readings

Some initial readings that we think are useful on why and how we might contest AI (we’ll keep this updated).

• Bonini, T., & Treré, E. (2024). Algorithms of resistance: The everyday fight against platform power. Mit Press.
• Hao, K. (2025). Empire of AI: Inside the reckless race for total domination. Random House.
• McQuillan, D. (2022). Resisting AI: An anti-fascist approach to artificial intelligence. Policy Press.
• Mansouri, M. I., & Bailey, D. J. (2025). How to be ‘anti-AI’in the 21st century: overcoming the inevitability narrative. Global Political Economy, 1-10.
• Merchant, B. (2023). Blood in the machine: The origins of the rebellion against big tech. Hachette UK.
• Moore, P. V., Ernst, E., Donoghue, R., and Bloom, P. (2025). Artificial Intelligence Policy Observatory for the World of Work (AIPOWW) Symposium Editorial. Global Political Economy 4, 2, 195-200

Affiliated critical AI networks

We are also working together with the following critical AI networks:

• Critical Studies in AI and Digitalisation Cluster (CSAID), University of Essex
• The Critical AI Centre (CrAIC), University of Exeter

Contact

The Contentious Politics Of AI network is coordinated by David J. Bailey (University of Birmingham), Masoumeh (Iran) Mansouri (University of Birmingham), and Gary Smith (Zhejiang University).

If you have any questions or want to get involved, email us at contestingAInetwork@gmail.com