The field of artificial intelligence (AI) promises to be the future of technology. In this thesis I critique this promise, showing how the term “artificial intelligence” functions as a branding apparatus that minimizes corporate accountability—that is, the AI label allows corporations to ignore how their products perpetuate sociocultural issues. Drawing on interviews and personal experiences with AI, I analyze the relatively short history of corporate AI production. In this process, I describe how corporations went from creating chess-playing machines to producing unmanned military drones. I claim that AIs are encoded with discrimination through programmers’ lack of understanding about the social, cultural, and political implications of their work. Looking for possible solutions, I advocate for external regulation of AI corporations, as well as for a reimagination of computer science education.