We are an Ethical, Legal, and Societal laboratory focused on the implications of AI for Media and Democracy.






“There cannot be a democracy without a healthy media landscape, there is no free media without a democracy, and the media cannot function without technology.”

The combination of practice & theory cutting-edge research will allow us to solve but also anticipate future issues and develop timely solutions. The AI, Media, and Democracy Lab is a collaboration between interdisciplinary groups to anticipate tomorrow’s issues and spread this knowledge.









At the lab, you can find a place for



Fundamental Interdisciplinary research



Research in law, communication science, philosophy, humanities, computer science can help us understand the effects of AI in the public sphere, civic engagement, or inclusiveness. Here, the resulting insights can be applied, tested, contested in practice to turned them into actual services.

Imaginative Transformation




The AI, Media and Democracy Lab offers room for blue-sky thinking and imaging the transformations that AI and digital technologies will bring to media and democracy.

Responsible Artificial Intelligence




A key question we work on is what exactly ‘responsible use of AI’ in media and democracy means and what legal, socio-technical, and economic conditions are needed to make it function.

Media innovation



Our focus is to support the Dutch and other local media businesses creating customer experiences in (cross) media design and help media companies gain competitive advantages in relation to large, global tech platforms.





collaborations


Our collaboration goes beyond research and practice; we collaborate with media, municipalities, and fora spaces to engage with the broader public. In addition, our initiative leaders are directly involved in the NLAIC Media and Culture group, the DiSa, and other relevant national networks, such as fab labs and NESTA labs across Europe, expanding the cooperation to boost innovation in the media sector.





Our research themes




Blue sky thinking: the media of the future

Reshaping the relationship with the audience

Public values & AI

Creating the legal, ethical, and organizational conditions for AI in the media





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‘Meet New Methods’: Measurement Across the Sciences

“Meet New Methods” is a series of interdisciplinary sessions hosted by the AI, Media & Democracy Lab at the Institute..

One year of ELSA: A report of our first annual Community Meeting

Last year we started our trajectory as a Dutch Research Council-funded Ethical, Legal, and Societal Aspects (ELSA) Lab. Our overarching..

The Consensus Machine: A Provocative AI Tool?

What situations can AI tools be used for, and where do we draw the line? Is it possible to build..

The Future of Journalism Conference in Cardiff 2023

In September 2023, members of the AI Media and Democracy Lab participated in the ninth biennial Future of Journalism Conference..

First Junior Scholars Network Mini Conference On AI Infrastructures

We look back on a successful first mini-conference of the AI, Media and Democracy Junior Scholars Network. Network members from..

Regulating Generative AI in the AI Act: A Set of Recommendations

In July of this year, we co-organised a workshop together with AlgorithmWatch, with the aim to generate constructive suggestions..