The bright side and dark side of emerging technologies in the media industry

Partners: Erasmus University Rotterdam & University of Amsterdam
Type: PhD
Duration: 2023—2027

The increasing prevalence of synthetic media, such as AI-generated images and videos, has sparked concerns among scholars and experts regarding their potential societal impacts. While initial warnings focused on the disinformation threat posed by these technologies, subtler concerns have emerged. These include a diminished trust in news media due to challenges in discerning real evidence from fabricated content, as well as the risk of exacerbating polarization and extremism in political discourse. This project aims to investigate these nuanced issues surrounding the diffusion of synthetic media and develop strategies to address them.

Key research questions include:

• How will AI-generated media influence perceptions and engagement with the news?
• Does awareness of synthetic media impact the credibility of news pieces, trust in specific news sources, and trust in news media overall?
• What technological interventions can mitigate the impact of synthetic media on news media?

To address these research questions, a combination of experimental studies and secondary data analysis will be employed.