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Digital Society Blog

Making sense of our connected world

The picture shows a tractor cultivating a field from above. One side of the field is covered in green, the other is dry and earthy. This is intended to show that although sustainable AI can be useful in the fight against climate change, it also comes at a high ecological cost.
Laura Liebig | 17. October 2024

Between vision and reality: Discourses about Sustainable AI in Germany

This article explores Sustainable AI and Germany’s shift from optimism to concern about its environmental impact. Can AI really combat climate change?

The photo shows a group of runners from above, leaving long shadows on the ground. Together they shape an arrow, symbolising that while many hail AI as technology of the future it often uses historical data and is predicting the past.
Katharina Mosene | 15. October 2024

One step forward, two steps back: Why artificial intelligence is currently mainly predicting the past

While AI is seen as technology of the future, it often relies on historical data. This blog post examines how AI can reproduce social inequalities and bias.

The picture shows a white wall with several clocks, all showing a different time. This symbolises the paradoxical impact of generative AI in the workplace on productivity.
Georg von Richthofen | 25. September 2024

Between time savings and additional effort: Generative AI in the workplace 

Generative AI in the workplace is enhancing productivity, yet employees face mixed results. This post examines chatbots’ paradoxical impact on efficiency.

The picture shows a young lion, symbolising our automated German text simplifier Simba, which was developed by our research group Public Interest AI.
Freya Hewett | 9. September 2024

From theory to practice and back again: A journey in public interest AI

This blog post reflects on our initial Public Interest AI principles, using our experiences from developing Simba, an open-source German text simplifier.

The image shows a football field from above. The players are only visible because of their shadows, symbolizing Humans in the Loop.
Philipp Mahlow, Theresa Züger, Lara Kauter | 17. July 2024

AI under supervision: Do we need Humans in the Loop in automation processes?

Automated decisions have advantages but are not always flawless. Some suggest a Human in the Loop as a solution. But does it guarantee better outcomes?

The picture shows colourful puzzle pieces, symbolising that AI for environmental protection is one part of many to protect our planet.
Irina Kühnlein, Birte Lübbert | 14. May 2024

One small part of many – AI for environmental protection

What role does AI play in applications for environmental protection? This blog post takes a look at six German projects that use AI for this purpose.

Fassade of a skyscraper with offices. Some of them have blue and purple colored lights on, some are dark, representing the data institute
Theresa Züger | 10. January 2024

How does the data institute become public-interest orientated?

The first German data institute is intended to coordinate the data ecosystem, network across sector boundaries, and enable innovations. (How) Can this be carried out in the public interest?

Vincent Hofmann | 14. November 2023

EU AI Act – Who fills the act with life?

EU AI Act: Tomorrow’s AI will be decided by authorities and companies in a complicated structure of competences.

Two hands are holding a paper ribbon, that shows the outline of people holding hands
Birte Lübbert, Irina Kühnlein | 7. November 2023

Participation with Impact: Insights into the processes of Common Voice

What makes the Common Voice project special and what can others learn from it? An inspiring example that shows what effective participation can look like.

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Du siehst Eisenbahnschienen. Die vielen verschiedenen Abzweigungen symbolisieren die Entscheidungsmöglichkeiten von Künstlicher Intelligenz in der Gesellschaft. Manche gehen nach oben, unten, rechts. Manche enden auch in Sackgassen. Englisch: You see railway tracks. The many different branches symbolise the decision-making possibilities of artificial intelligence and society. Some go up, down, to the right. Some also end in dead ends.

Artificial intelligence and society

How can we better understand the complex and reciprocal relationship between AI systems and social processes?

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