Participation in a New Edition of the “Epic Dialogues” on Technology and Society
Pep Gatell, president of the Èpica Foundation of La Fura dels Baus, engages in conversation with Dr. Miquel Domènech, social psychologist and professor in the Department of Social Psychology at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, about artificial intelligence and what this technology reveals and transforms in our society. The dialogue thus becomes a reflection on its ethical, political, and environmental implications.
In December 2025, Dr. Miquel Domènech took part in a new edition of the Epic Dialogues, an initiative by the Èpica Foundation of La Fura dels Baus focused on the intersection of science, technology, and art.
During the session, Dr. Domènech presented the type of research carried out by the STS-b research group in the Department of Social Psychology at the UAB. From the field of science and technology studies, the two participants in the dialogue explore the role of science in social organization, how technological innovations are produced, their impact on everyday life, and, especially, how citizens can be involved in these processes, which are often perceived as distant and restricted to experts.
One of the group’s current lines of research is social robotics, particularly in relation to the care of older adults. In an aging society, the question arises as to who will take care of these individuals, and one increasingly prominent answer is the incorporation of robots. In this regard, Dr. Domènech proposes a reversal of the usual imaginary: perhaps it will not be the wealthiest individuals who have robots, but rather those same individuals who will be able to afford continuing to be cared for by humans.
Regarding artificial intelligence, it is emphasized that this is a technology deeply embedded in the current socioeconomic context, characterized by technological oligopolies and significant inequalities. It is also underlined that artificial intelligence does not possess reasoning capacity, but rather a high capacity for data processing. While this enables powerful outcomes, it also entails the possibility of errors, as Dr. Domènech warns. Moreover, he notes that this is an extractive technology, based on the extraction of both material resources and data, which often cease to be available for common use.
Finally, a key idea is put forward: “technologies are neither good nor bad, but they are not neutral either.” They incorporate values and ways of operating that shape behaviors and decisions. Therefore, the need for a critical and measured use is highlighted, one that takes into account who benefits, what effects are generated, and which inequalities may be reinforced.
The full interview can be accessed at the following link.