The UMass Amherst Department of Communication is excited to host renowned digital anthropologist Payal Arora for its annual lecture on Monday, March 31, 2025, at noon in the Communication Hub (3rd floor, Integrative Learning Center).
Titled “Designing Inclusive Tech: Building Hopeful AI Futures with the Global Majority,” the lecture will explore Arora’s groundbreaking work on inclusive AI design and digital media in low-income communities worldwide.
This free event offers a unique opportunity to engage with cutting-edge ideas in AI, digital media, and global tech equity. Arora’s insights are particularly relevant for those interested in critical internet studies, feminist media futures, and global digital innovation.
RSVP now to secure your spot. For questions, contact Alison Butler at abutler[at]umass.edu or Martha Fuentes-Bautista at mfuentes[at]umass.edu.
About the Speaker:
Payal Arora, Professor of Inclusive AI Cultures at Utrecht University, is a leading voice in digital anthropology. She is the author of “The Next Billion Users” (Harvard Press) and “From Pessimism to Promise” (MIT Press), and her work has been featured in 200+ media outlets, including the BBC and The Economist. Arora has consulted for organizations like Google, UNHCR, and Spotify, and her research focuses on creating equitable tech futures.
