Paper Short Abstract:

As AI and algorithms increasingly shape the "digital self" (Turkle, 1984), ethnographers must go beyond studying the individuals we aim to understand to also analyze the algorithms they interact with and the forms of digitality that shape their lives. This paper delves into the challenges and opportunities ethnographers encounter in navigating this complex interplay.

Paper Abstract:

This paper examines how AI and algorithms shape both the objects of ethnographic inquiry and the methods of digital ethnography. My doctoral research investigates how recruitment algorithms mediate talent selection and how job seekers adapt to these algorithmic filters to enhance their perceived employability. As part of this research, I, as an ethnographer, engage intensively with recruitment algorithms by participating in an "imitation game". This process involves not only replicating the algorithmic experiences of my interlocutors but also embodying a "hireable persona" that aligns with algorithmic filters, adopting traits and behaviors favored by these systems.

Drawing inspiration from the Turing Test, which assesses machines’ ability to mimic human behavior, this paper introduces the concept of a Reverse Turing Test. In this test, job seekers must conform to machine-defined standards of employability, reshaping their self-presentation to meet algorithmic expectations. Moreover, the paper argues that ethnographers themselves face a similar Reverse Turing Test, as they must navigate and adapt to algorithmically mediated environments to engage meaningfully with their research subjects.

This dual-layered exploration highlights the broader implications of algorithmic systems in redefining ethnographic practice. It underscores how these systems not only influence the behaviors and strategies of their users but also challenge the methodologies and positionalities of ethnographers. The paper contributes to critical discussions on the intersections of technology, labor, and ethnography, emphasizing the need to critically engage with the unseen forces shaping digital research and interaction.