Jürgen Geuter: Looking At What Is
Contemporary discourse around socio-technical systems is often reduced to conversations about technological imaginaries. Technology is typically framed in terms of opportunities and risks, with an underlying assumption that technical innovation is the primary path toward a better future—though it may require some regulation or mediation. This session takes a step back from such narratives to explore the often invisible assumptions they carry. It focuses on how to reframe conversations about socio-technical systems based on their actual properties and real-world impacts. Using recent examples of technological hype, speaker tante shares his methods and critical questions for analysing, understanding, and challenging these narratives. He demonstrates the kinds of insights this approach can generate and how they can be practically applied.
About the Speaker
Jürgen Geuter: (tante) is a Berlin‐based sociotechnologist, writer, and speaker specialising in the social impact of technology. Identifying as comm(un)ist, feminist, antifascist, and luddite, he critically examines digital infrastructures and the hidden assumptions within techno-narratives. Over the past decade, he has authored thoughtful essays—such as on AI in healthcare and the realities behind “inevitable” tech narratives—and contributed to discussions on Web3 and other emerging technologies . Through his work, tante advocates for grounded, socially aware analysis of technological systems, bringing methodological rigor and critical perspectives to the interrogation of techno–social imaginaries.
About Us
This event is hosted by Tactical Tech as part of the *Collaborative and Investigative Journalism Initiative (CIJI). Tactical Tech is an international non-profit organisation that engages with citizens and civil-society organisations to explore and mitigate the impacts of technology on society. Exposing the Invisible is a Tactical Tech project that develops resources, training and collaborations promoting investigation as one of the most important forms of public engagement.
This event is part of the CIJI project co-funded by the European Union.
Disclaimer:
Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.