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Protecting democracy: Seminar on AI and political participation in Osnabrück
On June 3rd, the University of Osnabrück will discuss AI and democracy in the theater, free entry, registration required.
Protecting democracy: Seminar on AI and political participation in Osnabrück
The University of Osnabrück is planning a series of events on June 3rd that will address the challenges and effects of artificial intelligence (AI) on democracy. The working group “Ethics and Critical Theories of Artificial Intelligence” invites everyone interested to the Osnabrück Theater, Theater am Domhof 10/11, from 7 p.m. Participation is free, but registration is required at karten@theater-osnabrueck.de.
The focus of the event is the topic “Protecting democracy in times of techno-authoritarian politics”. A central point will be the discussion about the connection between AI and ultra-right movements. Current observations from the USA, such as the dismissal of tens of thousands of government employees and the control by tech billionaires like Elon Musk, raise questions that are also important for Germany and Europe. The aim of the event is to discuss the ideological background of these developments and to shed light on their possible effects on our society.
Technological influence on democracy
Digital technologies have fundamentally changed social dynamics in recent years. The influence of the Internet, social networks and smartphones on knowledge organization and the economy is unmistakable. The important role of AI has become increasingly clear since ChatGPT was launched at the end of 2022. There is great concern about manipulation and disinformation in this context, because AI has the potential to influence democratic processes both positively and negatively.
How bpb reports, the unreliability of AI-generated content creates new risks, particularly the erosion of the conditions for a healthy democratic public sphere. The challenge of appropriately regulating such technologies requires comprehensive social participation. A critical analysis of the interactions between technology, economics, politics and society is necessary to better understand the impact of AI on democratic participation.
Research and political participation
A research project at the Institute for Social Science Research in Munich is investigating how AI technologies influence political participation. Under the direction of Prof. Dr. Jeanette Hofmann and Dr. Clara Iglesias Keller's analysis focuses on the question of whether AI functions as a means of supporting or inhibiting participation in democratic processes. In this context, both conditions for political participation and the role of AI in political debates are considered WZB describes.
The event at the University of Osnabrück is therefore in line with current scientific discourses and the effort to understand the effects of AI on democratic institutions. Critical reflection and ideological debate are required in order to assess the opportunities and risks of this technology for democracy and to translate them into appropriate regulatory approaches. In view of the complex topics, active public participation is desired in order to jointly develop solutions for the challenges of the future.