David Gunkel
@davidgunkel.bsky.social
Professor - Northern Illinois University (USA). Award-winning author of the books The Machine Question, Robot Rights, Person-Thing-Robot, Of Remixology, and Deconstruction. https://gunkelweb.com
Pinned
David Gunkel
@davidgunkel.bsky.social
· Nov 15
Deconstruction
An accessible introduction to a concept often considered impossibly abstruse, demonstrating its power as a conceptual tool in the twenty-first century.This v...
mitpress.mit.edu
Professional Raison d'être:
I apply the theory and practice of #Deconstruction to emerging technology (#Algorithms, #AI, #robots, etc.), overturning and disrupting the traditional binary oppositions by which we have made sense of our tools and ourselves. mitpress.mit.edu/978026254247...
I apply the theory and practice of #Deconstruction to emerging technology (#Algorithms, #AI, #robots, etc.), overturning and disrupting the traditional binary oppositions by which we have made sense of our tools and ourselves. mitpress.mit.edu/978026254247...
November 26, 2025 at 2:36 AM
- Gaming the System -
New preprint of a book chapter that will appear in 2026 about the role of games and gaming in the research and development of #AI. Now available from @ssrn.bsky.social . dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn...
New preprint of a book chapter that will appear in 2026 about the role of games and gaming in the research and development of #AI. Now available from @ssrn.bsky.social . dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn...
November 24, 2025 at 2:53 PM
- Gaming the System -
New preprint of a book chapter that will appear in 2026 about the role of games and gaming in the research and development of #AI. Now available from @ssrn.bsky.social . dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn...
New preprint of a book chapter that will appear in 2026 about the role of games and gaming in the research and development of #AI. Now available from @ssrn.bsky.social . dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn...
And the beat goes on...
"No electric guitars!" - Newport Folk Festival 1967
"No synthesizers!" - Queen 1975
"No sampling!" - @henryrollins21361.bsky.social 2007
"No AI!" - Rick Beato et al. 2025
"No electric guitars!" - Newport Folk Festival 1967
"No synthesizers!" - Queen 1975
"No sampling!" - @henryrollins21361.bsky.social 2007
"No AI!" - Rick Beato et al. 2025
November 22, 2025 at 6:00 PM
And the beat goes on...
"No electric guitars!" - Newport Folk Festival 1967
"No synthesizers!" - Queen 1975
"No sampling!" - @henryrollins21361.bsky.social 2007
"No AI!" - Rick Beato et al. 2025
"No electric guitars!" - Newport Folk Festival 1967
"No synthesizers!" - Queen 1975
"No sampling!" - @henryrollins21361.bsky.social 2007
"No AI!" - Rick Beato et al. 2025
Can #AI Truly be Considered an Artist?
My interview with John Williams on @WGNRadio about #GenerativeAI music in general and the Breaking Rust #AI hit in particular. wgnradio.com/john-william...
My interview with John Williams on @WGNRadio about #GenerativeAI music in general and the Breaking Rust #AI hit in particular. wgnradio.com/john-william...
November 21, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Can #AI Truly be Considered an Artist?
My interview with John Williams on @WGNRadio about #GenerativeAI music in general and the Breaking Rust #AI hit in particular. wgnradio.com/john-william...
My interview with John Williams on @WGNRadio about #GenerativeAI music in general and the Breaking Rust #AI hit in particular. wgnradio.com/john-william...
My interview on @kcbsradio.bsky.social about the Breaking Rust #AI generated country hit "Walk My Walk" and the opportunities/challenges of #GenAI music.
www.audacy.com/podcast/kcbs...
www.audacy.com/podcast/kcbs...
November 21, 2025 at 8:25 PM
My interview on @kcbsradio.bsky.social about the Breaking Rust #AI generated country hit "Walk My Walk" and the opportunities/challenges of #GenAI music.
www.audacy.com/podcast/kcbs...
www.audacy.com/podcast/kcbs...
Because of reports about Breaking Rust's "Walk My Walk" topping one of the @billboard.com charts, this week has been the week for interviews about #AI generated music. Yesterday I was on @wifr.com TV, today it was @kcbsradio.bsky.social, and Friday it will be @wgnradio.bsky.social
November 19, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Because of reports about Breaking Rust's "Walk My Walk" topping one of the @billboard.com charts, this week has been the week for interviews about #AI generated music. Yesterday I was on @wifr.com TV, today it was @kcbsradio.bsky.social, and Friday it will be @wgnradio.bsky.social
Communicative #AI 🇸🇪
On Monday 8 December 2025, I will be presenting "Does Writing have a Future?" at @sodertornshogskola.bsky.social
sh.se/kalender/kal...
On Monday 8 December 2025, I will be presenting "Does Writing have a Future?" at @sodertornshogskola.bsky.social
sh.se/kalender/kal...
November 19, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Communicative #AI 🇸🇪
On Monday 8 December 2025, I will be presenting "Does Writing have a Future?" at @sodertornshogskola.bsky.social
sh.se/kalender/kal...
On Monday 8 December 2025, I will be presenting "Does Writing have a Future?" at @sodertornshogskola.bsky.social
sh.se/kalender/kal...
When what has been Zuhandenheit flips over into Vorhandenheit. OpenAI is now having its own @awscloud.bsky.social moment.
November 18, 2025 at 2:37 PM
When what has been Zuhandenheit flips over into Vorhandenheit. OpenAI is now having its own @awscloud.bsky.social moment.
Reposted by David Gunkel
Why Chatbot Feelings Matter
Dr. David Gunkel @davidgunkel.bsky.social explains why you can’t dismiss human emotions toward chatbots — and how this connects to AI creativity, shifting laws, and the future of human originality.
🎧 Full episode: youtu.be/MnxiXruwmC8
#AI #Chatbots #Tech #Ethics
Dr. David Gunkel @davidgunkel.bsky.social explains why you can’t dismiss human emotions toward chatbots — and how this connects to AI creativity, shifting laws, and the future of human originality.
🎧 Full episode: youtu.be/MnxiXruwmC8
#AI #Chatbots #Tech #Ethics
November 15, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Why Chatbot Feelings Matter
Dr. David Gunkel @davidgunkel.bsky.social explains why you can’t dismiss human emotions toward chatbots — and how this connects to AI creativity, shifting laws, and the future of human originality.
🎧 Full episode: youtu.be/MnxiXruwmC8
#AI #Chatbots #Tech #Ethics
Dr. David Gunkel @davidgunkel.bsky.social explains why you can’t dismiss human emotions toward chatbots — and how this connects to AI creativity, shifting laws, and the future of human originality.
🎧 Full episode: youtu.be/MnxiXruwmC8
#AI #Chatbots #Tech #Ethics
Reposted by David Gunkel
The Moral Lines We Draw Aren’t What We Think
Dr. David Gunkel @davidgunkel.bsky.social shows how our ethical boundaries — from pets to insects to AI — are social choices, not fixed truths. And those choices matter more than ever.
▶️ Full episode: youtu.be/MnxiXruwmC8
#AI #Ethics #Podcast
Dr. David Gunkel @davidgunkel.bsky.social shows how our ethical boundaries — from pets to insects to AI — are social choices, not fixed truths. And those choices matter more than ever.
▶️ Full episode: youtu.be/MnxiXruwmC8
#AI #Ethics #Podcast
November 16, 2025 at 4:45 PM
The Moral Lines We Draw Aren’t What We Think
Dr. David Gunkel @davidgunkel.bsky.social shows how our ethical boundaries — from pets to insects to AI — are social choices, not fixed truths. And those choices matter more than ever.
▶️ Full episode: youtu.be/MnxiXruwmC8
#AI #Ethics #Podcast
Dr. David Gunkel @davidgunkel.bsky.social shows how our ethical boundaries — from pets to insects to AI — are social choices, not fixed truths. And those choices matter more than ever.
▶️ Full episode: youtu.be/MnxiXruwmC8
#AI #Ethics #Podcast
Reposted by David Gunkel
Is AI Actually Thinking?
Dr. David Gunkel @davidgunkel.bsky.social breaks down how prediction creates the illusion of thought. The full episode dives into creativity, originality, and the legal challenges ahead.
🔗 Listen here: youtu.be/MnxiXruwmC8
#TechPhilosophy #AIandLaw #podcast
Dr. David Gunkel @davidgunkel.bsky.social breaks down how prediction creates the illusion of thought. The full episode dives into creativity, originality, and the legal challenges ahead.
🔗 Listen here: youtu.be/MnxiXruwmC8
#TechPhilosophy #AIandLaw #podcast
November 14, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Is AI Actually Thinking?
Dr. David Gunkel @davidgunkel.bsky.social breaks down how prediction creates the illusion of thought. The full episode dives into creativity, originality, and the legal challenges ahead.
🔗 Listen here: youtu.be/MnxiXruwmC8
#TechPhilosophy #AIandLaw #podcast
Dr. David Gunkel @davidgunkel.bsky.social breaks down how prediction creates the illusion of thought. The full episode dives into creativity, originality, and the legal challenges ahead.
🔗 Listen here: youtu.be/MnxiXruwmC8
#TechPhilosophy #AIandLaw #podcast
Reposted by David Gunkel
The Roman “person vs thing” divide is cracking.
With Prof. David Gunkel @davidgunkel.bsky.social , we ask why AI like ChatGPT can feel almost alive—and what that means for law, creativity, and how we classify machines.
🎙 Full episode: youtu.be/MnxiXruwmC8
#AI #AIEthics #TechAndSociety
With Prof. David Gunkel @davidgunkel.bsky.social , we ask why AI like ChatGPT can feel almost alive—and what that means for law, creativity, and how we classify machines.
🎙 Full episode: youtu.be/MnxiXruwmC8
#AI #AIEthics #TechAndSociety
November 13, 2025 at 3:00 PM
The Roman “person vs thing” divide is cracking.
With Prof. David Gunkel @davidgunkel.bsky.social , we ask why AI like ChatGPT can feel almost alive—and what that means for law, creativity, and how we classify machines.
🎙 Full episode: youtu.be/MnxiXruwmC8
#AI #AIEthics #TechAndSociety
With Prof. David Gunkel @davidgunkel.bsky.social , we ask why AI like ChatGPT can feel almost alive—and what that means for law, creativity, and how we classify machines.
🎙 Full episode: youtu.be/MnxiXruwmC8
#AI #AIEthics #TechAndSociety
Breaking Rust is getting shit for being #AI generated slop. But the fact is, every contemporary country song and every "real" country artist is a carefully constructed pop-culture artifact. #GenerativeAI just reveals the fact that recorded music has always been a simulation.
November 13, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Breaking Rust is getting shit for being #AI generated slop. But the fact is, every contemporary country song and every "real" country artist is a carefully constructed pop-culture artifact. #GenerativeAI just reveals the fact that recorded music has always been a simulation.
It gives me great pleasure to announce that the album "Weird AI" from Big Dada Project is now complete and available. This accordion-driven effort consists of nine #AI generated songs about #GenerativeAI. And no accordions were harmed in the process of making it. gunkelweb.com/BigDada/
November 12, 2025 at 10:57 PM
It gives me great pleasure to announce that the album "Weird AI" from Big Dada Project is now complete and available. This accordion-driven effort consists of nine #AI generated songs about #GenerativeAI. And no accordions were harmed in the process of making it. gunkelweb.com/BigDada/
Reposted by David Gunkel
The Human Habit of Seeing Robots as People
It’s instinctive, not accidental. Dr. David Gunkel @davidgunkel.bsky.social joins us to unpack why we anthropomorphize machines—and how that shapes the ethics, law, and creativity around AI.
🎧 Full episode here: youtu.be/MnxiXruwmC8
#AI #Robots #Ethics
It’s instinctive, not accidental. Dr. David Gunkel @davidgunkel.bsky.social joins us to unpack why we anthropomorphize machines—and how that shapes the ethics, law, and creativity around AI.
🎧 Full episode here: youtu.be/MnxiXruwmC8
#AI #Robots #Ethics
November 11, 2025 at 2:58 PM
The Human Habit of Seeing Robots as People
It’s instinctive, not accidental. Dr. David Gunkel @davidgunkel.bsky.social joins us to unpack why we anthropomorphize machines—and how that shapes the ethics, law, and creativity around AI.
🎧 Full episode here: youtu.be/MnxiXruwmC8
#AI #Robots #Ethics
It’s instinctive, not accidental. Dr. David Gunkel @davidgunkel.bsky.social joins us to unpack why we anthropomorphize machines—and how that shapes the ethics, law, and creativity around AI.
🎧 Full episode here: youtu.be/MnxiXruwmC8
#AI #Robots #Ethics
Reposted by David Gunkel
Humans name their cars. Next, their robots.
Dr. David Gunkel @davidgunkel.bsky.social joins to explore whether AI can truly create—and what that means for human originality and law as tech blurs the lines between creator and tool.
🎧 Listen here: youtu.be/MnxiXruwmC8
#AI #Robotics #Ethics
Dr. David Gunkel @davidgunkel.bsky.social joins to explore whether AI can truly create—and what that means for human originality and law as tech blurs the lines between creator and tool.
🎧 Listen here: youtu.be/MnxiXruwmC8
#AI #Robotics #Ethics
November 12, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Humans name their cars. Next, their robots.
Dr. David Gunkel @davidgunkel.bsky.social joins to explore whether AI can truly create—and what that means for human originality and law as tech blurs the lines between creator and tool.
🎧 Listen here: youtu.be/MnxiXruwmC8
#AI #Robotics #Ethics
Dr. David Gunkel @davidgunkel.bsky.social joins to explore whether AI can truly create—and what that means for human originality and law as tech blurs the lines between creator and tool.
🎧 Listen here: youtu.be/MnxiXruwmC8
#AI #Robotics #Ethics
"AI, Ethics, and the End of the Human–Machine Divide." Third and final part of my conversation with Siamak Goudarzi for the Nexter AI Group podcast. www.youtube.com/watch?v=iq9f...
AI, Ethics, and the End of the Human–Machine Divide
YouTube video by Nexter AI Group
www.youtube.com
November 11, 2025 at 1:56 PM
"AI, Ethics, and the End of the Human–Machine Divide." Third and final part of my conversation with Siamak Goudarzi for the Nexter AI Group podcast. www.youtube.com/watch?v=iq9f...
I had the opportunity to speak with Seth Camillo and
@carolinerisberg.bsky.social for episode #55 "Is #AI Alive?" of the www.theinternetiscrack.com podcast.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mnxi...
@carolinerisberg.bsky.social for episode #55 "Is #AI Alive?" of the www.theinternetiscrack.com podcast.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mnxi...
#55 Is AI Alive?: A Conversation With Dr. David Gunkel
YouTube video by The Internet is Crack
www.youtube.com
November 10, 2025 at 7:27 PM
I had the opportunity to speak with Seth Camillo and
@carolinerisberg.bsky.social for episode #55 "Is #AI Alive?" of the www.theinternetiscrack.com podcast.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mnxi...
@carolinerisberg.bsky.social for episode #55 "Is #AI Alive?" of the www.theinternetiscrack.com podcast.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mnxi...
"Empathy, Ethics & Robot Rights: How AI Changes What It Means to Be Human" - Part two of my conversation with Siamak Goudarzi for the Nexter AI Group podcast.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2zK...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2zK...
Empathy, Ethics & Robot Rights: How AI Changes What It Means to Be Human | Gunkel × Goudarzi Part 2
YouTube video by Nexter AI Group
www.youtube.com
November 7, 2025 at 2:24 PM
"Empathy, Ethics & Robot Rights: How AI Changes What It Means to Be Human" - Part two of my conversation with Siamak Goudarzi for the Nexter AI Group podcast.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2zK...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2zK...
I had the opportunity to speak with Siamak Goudarzi about #AI personhood, #robotrights, and the moral/legal status of artifacts for the Nexter AI Group podcast. www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvUa...
Virtual Personhood & the End of Human Exceptionalism | Siamak Goudarzi x Prof. David Gunkel
YouTube video by Nexter AI Group
www.youtube.com
November 6, 2025 at 3:28 PM
I had the opportunity to speak with Siamak Goudarzi about #AI personhood, #robotrights, and the moral/legal status of artifacts for the Nexter AI Group podcast. www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvUa...
Interview about #GenerativeAI, authorship, and #ethics in the book "#AI Hokusai: Reflections on Art, #AI and Legacy" - aihokusai.art/report2025
November 5, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Interview about #GenerativeAI, authorship, and #ethics in the book "#AI Hokusai: Reflections on Art, #AI and Legacy" - aihokusai.art/report2025
Photos from the "Rights for Robots?" event at Knox College a few weeks ago. My thanks to Robert Geraci for organizing the event and showing me around Galesburg, IL.
November 5, 2025 at 2:30 AM
Photos from the "Rights for Robots?" event at Knox College a few weeks ago. My thanks to Robert Geraci for organizing the event and showing me around Galesburg, IL.
My talk at the "Workshop on Emerging Topics in #AI: Consciousness and Moral Patienthood" Google NYC. Presenting material from "The Machine Question" trilogy @mitpress.bsky.social
November 4, 2025 at 7:47 PM
My talk at the "Workshop on Emerging Topics in #AI: Consciousness and Moral Patienthood" Google NYC. Presenting material from "The Machine Question" trilogy @mitpress.bsky.social
At Google NYC for the "Workshop on Emerging Topics in #AI: Consciousness and Moral Patienthood." And they are using one of my social media posts as the framing mechanism. I will be talking about "Person, Thing, Robot" @mitpress.bsky.social later this afternoon.
November 4, 2025 at 4:10 PM
At Google NYC for the "Workshop on Emerging Topics in #AI: Consciousness and Moral Patienthood." And they are using one of my social media posts as the framing mechanism. I will be talking about "Person, Thing, Robot" @mitpress.bsky.social later this afternoon.