Algorithmic Agnotology: On AI, Ignorance, and Power – Alondra Nelson | IASEAI '26

What if uncertainty about AI isn’t just a technical limitation—but something that’s actively produced? In this IASEAI 2026 plenary, Alondra Nelson (Institute for Advanced Study; former Deputy Assistant to the President and Acting Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy) introduces the concept of algorithmic agnotology—the strategic production of ignorance in AI systems and discourse. Drawing on historical parallels from industries like tobacco, oil, and pharmaceuticals, Nelson argues that today’s AI ecosystem often blurs the line between what is unknowable and what is simply undisclosed. She explores how design opacity, generated uncertainty, and claims of unknowability can limit accountability—while allowing companies to shape narratives around risk, safety, and transparency. The talk challenges researchers and policymakers to question whether we are interrogating opacity—or unintentionally reinforcing it—and calls for stronger governance, independent oversight, and a rethinking of what it means to “know” AI systems in practice. #AlondraNelson #AIGovernance #AITransparency #AISafety #IASEAI