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Powerful new AI applications promise to enhance productivity, enable novel forms of creativity, and save lives. However, it is also clear that they generate new problems and challenges. Most prominently, large AI models have been found to reproduce historical biases, inequalities, and power concentrations, as well as supercharge mass surveillance, organised violence, and the circulation of disinformation. Drawing on diverse humanities disciplines, the Human(e) AI group develops a new research programme to engage with these challenges and opportunities.
GenAI & Creative Practices: Past, Present, and Future

This international conference, organised by Responsible Digital Transformations, will bring together scholars, researchers, and practitioners to critically examine the evolving relationship between Generative AI (GenAI) and creative work. Keynote speakers: Baptiste Caramiaux, Pei Sze Chow, Max Schich & Naureen Mahmood.

Human(e) AI at the Faculty of Humanities

In the Human(e) AI group, we critically situate and examine the development of AI technologies within specific socio-cultural and political-economic histories and regions. Building on this research, we, subsequently, propose a reconfigured, situated AI ethics. This approach challenges universalist claims by being responsive to diverse societal concerns, the perspectives of impacted communities and public institutions. Informed by historical investigations, political economic inquiries, computational linguistics, and empirical ethics, we develop alternative scenarios, practices, and applications.

Human(e) AI researchers collaborate with colleagues across the university and with societal partners to:

  • critically examine the historical and societal development of machine learning and AI;
  • articulate situated AI ethics, and
  • develop alternative AI applications.

To pursue these objectives and collaborations, we adopt four strategies, which are supported and guided by prof. dr. Thomas Poell, the Human(e) AI faculty lead.

Find out more about our strategies

How does GenAI change our notion of what creativity is?

From films to paintings, music and texts: the use of generative AI is transforming cultural production. What does this mean for artists and cultural workers? And how does this change the nature of creativity?

Education programmes and projects
Faculty lead

Thomas Poell is Professor of Data, Culture & Institutions at the UvA. His research focuses on platforms, AI, and the transformation of the cultural industries. With colleagues from around the globe, he is developing a research project on Generative AI and Creative Work, which connects platform studies with ideas from postcolonial and decolonial theory in a Global Perspectives programme.

Associated researchers