Angie Raymond

Amusing Ourselves to Death: AI, Society, and Where We Might Go From Here

We are living in the future Neil Postman warned us about.

In this thought-provoking session, Dr. Anjanette (Angie) Raymond revisits Postman’s Amusing Ourselves to Death and Technopoly to examine how today’s digital ecosystem—driven by AI, algorithms, and always-on screens—has transformed public discourse, culture, and governance. What began as a media environment shaped by television has evolved into an immersive, addictive, and fragmented digital reality that increasingly defines how we think, decide, and relate to one another.

Dr. Raymond argues that our current crisis goes beyond distraction or entertainment. We are witnessing a deeper cultural shift: the surrender of human judgment, ethics, and meaning to technology itself. In a Technopoly, culture no longer uses technology as a tool—it looks to technology for authority, solutions, and legitimacy. From information overload to the erosion of institutional and personal authority, the consequences of this shift are visible in everyday life.

Rather than calling for the rejection of technology, this session challenges us to reclaim it. Dr. Raymond explores how societies can re-center non-technical values—such as purpose, accountability, and ethical reasoning—so that technology serves humanity, rather than humanity submitting to technique. Attendees will leave with a clearer framework for understanding AI’s cultural impact and a renewed sense of agency in shaping what comes next.

About the Speaker

Dr. Anjanette (Angie) Raymond is Director of the Program on Data Management and Information Governance at the Ostrom Workshop, Professor and Chair of the Department of Business Law and Ethics at the Kelley School of Business, Indiana University, and Adjunct Professor of Law at the Maurer School of Law.

A leading scholar in data governance, artificial intelligence governance, privacy, and online dispute resolution, Dr. Raymond has published extensively across law, technology, and global commerce. She currently serves as a U.S. National Consultant Delegate to UNCITRAL on electronic commerce issues and is recognized as an expert in Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) by the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). She is also an academic lead on the Collaborative Framework for Cross-Border ODR and recently completed her role as Principal Investigator for the NSF-funded Midwest Big Data Hub, overseeing its Smart and Resilient Cities initiative.