On 13 October, researchers and industry will meet for a unique national discussion in Umeå, Stockholm and Gothenburg on the impact of AI in the broadcasting and gaming industries as well as in political communication. How will artificial intelligence (AI) shape these areas? And how will politics and political messaging be affected by our increasing use of social media?
To increase understanding of the impact of artificial intelligence on the media industry, WASP-HS and WARA Media and Language are organizing an afternoon on the theme of AI and media.
“From micro-advertising and music production to personalized news, the applications of artificial intelligence in the media sector are both positive and useful, but can also be dangerous. At the same time, the creative sector has always been early adopters of AI technology, and their insights and experiences contribute to further innovation in AI,” says Professor Virginia Dignum, WASP-HS Program Director.
“There is a need for continuous interdisciplinary discussion with multiple stakeholders to understand and apply the benefits and limit the negative uses. We are pleased to create this platform so that the discussion between academia and industry can begin. Together we can understand where we are today and what kind of future we want to lay the foundations for,” continues Virginia Dignum.
Roundtable Discussions
The afternoon will be opened by Mark Harrison, CEO of the DPP, who will talk about the impact AI is having on the broadcasting industry. Researchers and representatives from, for example, media- and gaming companies will participate in the afternoons roundtable discussions. The roundtable discussions will take place simultaneously in Umeå, Stockholm and Gothenburg.
“Today’s media industry is in many respects completely digital, which creates good conditions for automating workflows with the help of AI. There are both great expectations and concerns about how this will affect the industry, so it is important that stakeholders get together and develop their understanding of the new technology,” says Johanna Björklund, Project Manager for WARA Media and Language.
Simon Lindgren, WASP-HS Professor at the Department of Sociology at Umeå University, will lead one of the roundtable discussions on the theme of AI and politics.
“The politics surrounding AI as a technology is crucial for the future. How should AI be developed? Why and by whom? For what purposes? AI tools have also come to be used increasingly for political purposes. These include personalized advertisements, bots that can distort the political dialogue in society, and so on. In both these cases, it is important to discuss AI in relation to power relations and manipulation in society,” says Simon Lindgren.
The discussions are summarized in a report that will be available for download on the WASP-HS website in mid-December. Parts of the event will be available online.
