248, Alessandra Renzi speaks on AI industries as driving gentrification in Parc Ex, Montreal

Free City Radio

On this edition of Free City Radio we hear from educator and researcher Alessandra Renzi speaking on the ways that the AI technology boom in Quebec is impacting gentrification in Parc Ex. Alessandra specifically speaks about efforts to both document and organize around the impacts of the AI industry in the Montreal neighbourhood of Parc Ex. A process that Alessandra describes as shaped by "a disregard to life worlds already on the ground," by institutions like MILA and others that are heavily backed by public funds by the Quebec and Canadian governments often with little strings attached. This funding for AI companies comes at a time when public investments in social housing, by all levels of government, are at an all time low, exemplified by the cut of Quebec gov. support for AccèsLogis. Alessandra is the co-author of "Digital Divides – The Impact of Montreal’s AI Ecosystems on Parc Extension: Housing, Environment and Access to Services. April 2022," which you can read, along with other research resources here: https://antievictionmontreal.org/en/publications/ Alessandra is an educator who investigates how society's increasing reliance on platforms, algorithms and artificial intelligence is changing social justice activism Alessandra speaks on the impacts of the AI technology "boom" in Quebec and how it is impacting and hyper-driving gentrification in the immigrant working class area of Parc Ex. in Montreal. This interview is being shared as part of a current series on Free City Radio airing in the build up to a gathering on housing justice that is taking place from March 7-9, 2025 at Concordia, for more information visit: housingjustice.now This interview series is supported by the Social Justice Centre at Concordia University. The music track is Passage by Anarchist Mountains. Free City Radio is hosted and produced by Stefan @spirodon Christoff and airs on @radiockut 90.3FM at 11am on Wednesdays and @cjlo1690 AM in Tiohti:áke/Montréal on Wednesdays at 8:30am. On @ckuwradio 95.9FM in Winnipeg at 10:30pm on Tuesdays. On @cfrc 101.9FM in Kingston, Ontario at 11:30am on Wednesdays. Also it broadcasts on @cfuv 101.9 FM in Victoria, BC on Wednesdays at 9am and Saturdays at 7am, as well as Met Radio 1280 AM in Toronto at 5:30am on Fridays. Now Free City Radio will also be broadcasting on CKCU FM 93.1 in Ottawa on Tuesdays at 2pm, tune-in!