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A breath of fresh air.

Our new research focuses are
available for exploration!

A breath of fresh air.

Our new research focuses
are available for exploration!

NEWS FROM THE INSTITUTE

Press

The Pope and AI

On ZDF’s heute journal, Matthias C. Kettemann comments Pope Leo XIV.’s first encyclical on artificial intelligence.

Project

AI and Gender Equality

We identify research gaps in the area of structural disadvantage of women in the context of AI systems, to inform policy and practice.

Press

Regulating AI through creative agency

In the FAZ, Ali Gümüşay and Matthias Kettemann examine discretion and judgement in the use of new technologies by public authorities and courts.

Press

US court rules that social media platforms are bad for mental health

Matthias Kettemann discusses the court case lost by Meta and Google in the US on Deutschlandfunk Kultur.

Press

The digital 2000s: the rise of smartphones, computer games and social media

Jeanette Hofmann talks about the digitalisation between 2000 and 2009 on radioeins.

Publication

Navigating Crisis

Our new Learn-and-Do Kit supports higher education institutions in strengthening their resilience through creativity.

Twenty Fifty neu – 1

Twentyfifty: International Essay Competition

We invite researchers from around the world to develop utopias for a democratic society in 2050. We look forward to receiving submissions by 15 June 2026.

SUBMIT YOUR IDEA

UPCOMING EVENTS

Further events

  • August 11
    3rd Workshop on ‘Public Interest AI’
    All Day | Messe Bremen (Exhibition Center) |

    • More to come soon.

    Explore our current issues
    while we reshape our research agenda…

    More to come soon.

    Explore our current issues
    while we reshape our research agenda…

    RESEARCH ISSUES IN FOCUS

    Platform governance

    In our research on platform governance, we investigate how corporate goals and social values can be balanced on online platforms.
    Du siehst eine Tastatur auf der eine Taste rot gefärbt ist und auf der „Control“ steht. Eine bildliche Metapher für die Regulierung von digitalen Plattformen im Internet und Data Governance. You see a keyboard on which one key is coloured red and says "Control". A figurative metaphor for the regulation of digital platforms on the internet and data governance.

    Data governance

    We develop robust data governance frameworks and models to provide practical solutions for good data governance policies.
    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

    The future of artificial Intelligence and society operates in diverse societal contexts. What can we learn from its political, social and cultural facets?

    Digitalisation and sustainability

    In terms of sustainability, digitalisation faces countless opportunities and challenges. We explore how technology is used responsibly.
    Du siehst eine Bibliothek mit einer runden Treppe die sich in die höhe schraubt. Sie steht sinnbildlich für die sich stetig weiterentwickelnden digitalen Infrastrukturen unserer Wissensgesellschaft. You see a library with a round staircase that spirals upwards. It symbolises the constantly evolving digital infrastructures of our knowledge society.

    Open higher education

    We explore the use of open higher education & edtech to create, share and disseminate knowledge for all in our knowledge society.
    Man sieht einen leeren Büroraum ohne Möbel und braunen Teppichboden. Das Bild steht sinnbildlich für die Frage, wie die Arbeit der Zukunft und digitales Organisieren und Zukunft unseren Arbeitsplatz beeinflusst. You see an empty office room without furniture and brown carpeting. The image is emblematic of the question of how the work of the future and digital organising and the future will influence our workplace.

    Digital future of the workplace

    How will AI and digitalisation change the future of the workplace? We assess their impact, and the opportunities and risks for the future of work.

    Experts for Media

    HIIG Expertise – Startseite - Micro - single

    Here you will find our experts on current press topics relating to the Internet and digitalisation.

    AI Compass

    KI Kompass Startseite

    Everyone is talking about artificial intelligence (AI). But what is all the hype? Find out with this card game.

    Data Governance Guide

    smart city_startseite

    Our new handbook provides guidance on the legally compliant and efficient use of data for administrations.

    DIGITAL SOCIETY BLOG

    Further articles

    Sustainable AI – How environmentally friendly is AI really?

    Sustainable AI is becoming increasingly important. But how sustainable are AI models really? And what recommendations can be made? Read about our investigations of small-scale AI projects.

    Sami Nenno, Christopher Richter on 29 June 2022
    Image shows a visualized human brain with blue light effects

    AI as a flying blue brain? How metaphors influence our visions of AI

    Why is Artificial Intelligence so commonly depicted as a machine with a human brain? This article by Johanna Teresa Wallenborn shows how one misleading metaphor became so prevalent.

    Johanna Wallenborn on 17 May 2022
    Person in wheelchair taking photos outside

    Exploiting potentials: Teaching AI Systems to See Accessibility Barriers

    Barriers in our physical environment are still widespread. While AI systems could eventually support detecting them, it first needs open training data. Here we provide a dataset for detecting steps and stairs.

    Jakob Stolberg-Larsen on 2 May 2022