Media Narratives Shape Complex Perceptions of AI, New Research Reveals
Research reveals nuanced AI coverage in major global newspapers, emphasizing its societal complexities.
Key Points
- • Study challenges perception of AI media coverage as predominantly hype-driven.
- • Introduces 'mediated technological drama' to explain media's role in framing AI narratives.
- • Findings highlight the political and social implications of AI beyond technological issues.
- • Calls for journalists to represent diverse perspectives in AI discussions.
A recent study from the University of Manchester and the University of Groningen uncovers a nuanced portrayal of artificial intelligence (AI) in global newspaper coverage, challenging the belief that media is predominantly amplifying hype. Analyzing reports from *The New York Times*, *De Volkskrant*, and *Folha de S.Paulo* between June 2020 and September 2023, the research identifies a distinctive narrative of 'open-ended technological inevitability', which highlights the uncertain trajectory of AI's influence on society.
AI's representation is revealed as not merely a technological concern but as intricately linked with political and social dynamics, manifesting through power struggles involving governments, corporations, experts, and citizens. The term 'mediated technological drama' is introduced to encapsulate how media frames public understanding of these emerging technologies. This formulation positions journalists as key players in shaping narratives that echo existential fears similar to those surrounding nuclear weapons and climate change.
Dr. João C. Magalhães underscores the importance of journalists representing diverse perspectives on AI. Despite the study refuting the notion of overwhelming media hype, it calls for a conscientious approach to coverage that includes critical viewpoints as discussions about AI regulation and ethics gain relevance in public discourse.