Call for Papers | Online Conference

NEWPATH: New Paradigms in Communication Technologies and Humanity

Artificial Intelligence: Technological, Social, and Cultural Ties

We invite submissions for the 2025 online conference on "Artificial Intelligence: Technological, Social, and Cultural Ties," which will be held in joint organization between the University of Tras-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD-Portugal) and the Üsküdar University (Türkiye). In an era of unprecedented digital transformation, this multidisciplinary event will explore the entangled relationships between artificial intelligence, technology, society, and culture.

There has been a significant amount of speculation about AI, including far-fetched predictions for an uncertain future. Erin Griffith (2024), a New York Times journalist, states AI is not "about magic," nor is it new. According to Nick Bostrom's 2014 book "Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies," machine-based intelligence was a matter of humans "playing with a bomb," as the author warned about a mismatch between "our plaything and the immaturity of our conduct." Moreover, Stuart Russell acknowledged in "Human Compatible: Artificial Intelligence and the Problem of Control" (2019) that humans should not hold machines responsible for the harmful consequences of AI—human decisions in deploying such technologies are at the very core of a suitable adaptation to a new paradigm.

In these discussions, the operation of search engines is also important. Jim Clyde Monge (2024) asserts that "Google Search is dead," citing the company's recent heavy criticism for flooding its search results with ads and sponsored content. Google is enabling all websites to compete for a prominent position and increase their revenue, resulting in a decrease in the quality and relevance of search results for users.

As AI systems become increasingly embedded in everyday life, they influence not only how we communicate but also how cultural norms and social structures evolve. While AI holds the promise of innovation and interaction, it also blurs the lines between human life, ethical responsibility, and technology. How do cultural contexts shape the development and application of AI? In what ways does AI reshape social interactions and cultural production? Are we fully aware of the data-driven infrastructures that underlie these technological systems? How does this affect scientific studies?

We invite scholars from diverse fields, including media studies, communication, sociology, cultural studies, computer science, and other relevant fields, to submit abstracts that address these questions, discuss the current and future ramifications of AI, and promote critical awareness. Topics include, but are not limited to:

AI's cultural impact on communication;

The ethical challenges of AI in a multicultural world;

AI and the transformation of social structures and relationships;

The role of big data in shaping cultural narratives;

AI, identity politics, and digital inequalities.

Full papers will be considered for publication in the Etkileşim Journal (DOAJ, EBSCO, and TR Dizin), published by Üsküdar University, Faculty of Communication. All papers will be subjected to a peer review process, and only accepted papers will be included in the journal. For more information, please visit: https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/usuifade

References

Bostrom, N. (2014). Superintelligence: Paths, dangers, strategies. Oxford University Press.

Griffith, E. (2024, September 6). A.I. isn’t magic, but can it be ‘agentic’? The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/06/business/artificial-intelligence-agentic.html

Monge, J. C. (2024, May 12). Google search is dead. Generative AI Publication. https://www.generativeaipub.com/p/google-search-is-dead

Russell, S. (2019). Human compatible: Artificial intelligence and the problem of control. Viking.