AI in Politics and Media

 

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To increase understanding of the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the media industry, the national research programme WASP-HS and WARA Media and Language are organising an afternoon on the theme of AI and media.

"From micro-advertising and music production to personalised 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 Programme 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

Researchers and representatives from media companies and gaming companies, for example, will participate in the afternoon, and 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, 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 personalised 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 summarised in a report that will be available for download on WASP-HS in mid-December. Parts of the event will be available online.