Generative AI describes a new technology that is based on large language models. Since it automatically formulates meaningful-sounding text and reproduces statistical correlations, it is often used in scientific or journalistic practices – e.g. for writing texts, research, literature analyses, data evaluations, etc. Practices of knowledge production are therefore changing through the use of generative AI. At the same time, since the emergence of generative AI in November 2022 far-reaching societal risks of the technology have been discussed. We are going to discuss how ethical concerns about generative AI relate to its application in knowledge production and how these raise epistemic injustices and frictions. Based on foundational theoretical work from Science and Technology Studies and AI ethics, we are going to theoretically contemplate on the socio-technical constitution of emerging technologies such as generative AI and their appropriation in everyday practices of producing societal knowledge, for instance in science or journalism. Students are required to engage with relevant literature and theoretical concepts to apply to current phenomena of how generative AI changes societal knowledge production.

Study Task: Presentation
Exam Task: Term paper

Kurs im HIS-LSF