Mathias Felipe de Lima Santos visits the OCL

Last week, the Online Communication Lab (OCL) and the Department of Communication at the University of Münster welcomed Mathias Felipe de Lima Santos (UNSW Sydney, Universitat Pompeu Fabra Barcelona). He traveled from Australia to share his research and perspectives on the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the interplay between media, politics, and democracy.

In his talk, “AI to Empower Media, Politics, and Democracy in the Global South?”, he discussed how AI is shaping media and democratic processes. Drawing on various case studies, particularly from Latin America, he highlighted both opportunities and risks: while AI has the potential to enhance transparency, combat disinformation, and strengthen political participation, these effects are unevenly distributed. Structural challenges such as limited media freedom, corruption, and digital inequality significantly shape how AI technologies operate in these contexts. Another key focus was the influence of major technology platforms and their funding programs on the development of AI applications in journalism.

The well-attended event was followed by an engaged discussion. Participants also used the opportunity to exchange ideas on ongoing research projects and explore possibilities for future collaboration.