AI and Non-Human Agents
Kun Xu’s research explores how groundbreaking technology, particularly AI, presents both promises and perils.
“On one hand, those AI technologies play multiple roles in society. They can be extensions of human beings. For example, autistic children use telepresence robots to attend classes. During the COVID-19 pandemic, some doctors relied on telepresence robots to meet patients.
On the other hand, ethics become an important theme when we co-live with these AI technologies. We want the technologies to be social and humanlike for communication purposes, but how much human likeness do we want them to have? How can we best protect users’ privacy while allowing these technologies to create positive experiences for us?”
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AI and Consumer Perceptions
Yang Feng uses machine-learning algorithms to study consumer insights expressed in comments on social media platforms, particularly YouTube and Instagram.
“I examine the role of algorithms in shaping consumer responses to social-issue campaigns. Algorithms rank comments based on how popular they are and how many likes they have gained. So popular comments are pushed to the top. And, in that way, algorithms can shape popular opinions by elevating dominant opinions and further influence subsequent viewers, reactions and interpretations and can sometimes silence minority opinions.
My recent research also is exploring how marketers are using generative AI to create advertising and whether consumers view these ads as creative or if they feel the quality of AI-generated advertising is less compelling.”
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AI and News
Frank Waddell is exploring audience receptivity to news-writing AI. “The capabilities of AI as content producers are expanding. The writing of news is no exception, with major news organizations relying upon generative AI for writing thousands of news articles across topics like finance, weather and sports.
AI’s ability to write the news, however, does not guarantee that news readers are receptive to AI. News-writing algorithms offer both challenges and opportunities to news organizations. For example, AI-powered reporting can free newsrooms from monotonous, data-focused reporting (e.g., stock reports) with a high level of precision. However, this will only be a benefit if news readers are willing to accept AI in this new role; the jump from AI cleaning our rugs to writing our news is a big leap!”
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AI and Language Bias
Research by the Consortium on Trust in Media and Technology, led by Managing Director Janet Coats, finds that journalists use a common language to describe controversial and potentially divisive topics in ways that could further damage trust in reporting.
“Our research suggests that by redirecting words away from inherent biases and toward authentic language people use to describe their experiences, we may find one pathway that engenders trust.
Using an AI-assisted linguistics approach, we analyzed coverage of controversial subjects, such as abortion, climate change, and public protests. In each instance, we found common patterns of language used by journalists. Based on the findings, we’re developing an AI-assisted tool aimed at equipping journalists with the insights to make informed decisions in their writing.”
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AI and Misinformation
Jieun Shin is exploring the spread of misinformation and disinformation and ways to combat it.
“Misinformation has emerged as a serious issue in the 21st century, exacerbated by AI tools that make it easy for anyone to create fake news and images. But that doesn’t mean we are defenseless. Researchers, tech companies, and governments are collaborating to fight AI-powered misinformation with AI technology. Platform companies partner with professional fact-checkers and content moderators to tag fake information and use it to detect misinformation early in the diffusion stage.
In addition to automatically detecting fake news and images, there is an increasing need for media literacy education. “My recent research on whether media literacy actually helps Internet users process information critically and make informed decisions showed the efficacy of media literacy skills,” she said.
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AI and Democracy
The declining level of trust in journalism and, consequently, the declining level of civic engagement has a direct negative impact on participatory democracy. To address this threat, Seungahn Nah began to explore what AI can do to bolster democracy through a journalism perspective.
Since 2022, he has led a team of researchers in building an AI-empowered nonprofit news platform that leverages trust in news, social capital and civic engagement in local communities. The project sheds a particular light on the underserved nonprofit and volunteer organizations and their activities in the community communication ecosystem. Its first nonprofit news site, MyMiamiNews, is preparing to launch in Miami, Florida, in early 2024.
