The broad introduction of Large Language Models and other AI driven technologies have raised a host of societal questions about the use of artificial intelligence in media. The AI, Media and Democracy Lab researches the impact of AI on the democratic function of the media, and its role in promoting an inclusive society as a key technology. The lab is co-founded by the University of Amsterdam, Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica, and the Amsterdam University of Applied Science.
In 2022, AIMD started its trajectory as a Dutch Research Council-funded Ethical, Legal, and Societal Aspects Lab. Its overarching goal is to develop and test value-driven, human-centred AI applications and ethical and legal frameworks for the responsible use of AI in the media. The lab aims to stimulate the innovation of AI applications that strengthen the democratic function of media. The AI, Media and Democracy Lab does so in close collaboration with partners, which include journalists, media organisations, designers, citizens, researchers, and public and societal partners.
“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.
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.
CENTRAL CHALLENGES
As an interdisciplinary lab, the AI, Media and Democracy Lab is made up of researchers from various academic backgrounds, including law, communication science, philosophy, humanities, and computer science. To facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration, research is structured into four main research clusters.
Read more about our central research challenges
FOUNDERS
