AI & Society – serie

The story of journalism has been one of acceleration, marked by increasing expectations to do more with less — to produce more news, participate on more platforms, and reach more diverse audiences. The rise of AI offers a constitutive moment, perhaps even a 'breaking point', for journalism: a junction where journalists are confronting existential questions about their roles, routines, and relationships. AI is transforming how we create, access, and make sense of information, and challenging journalism's longstanding authority. What is happening, why, and with what consequences?This book critically examines what AI means for journalists, audiences, and the future of news. Exploring questions about human labor and creativity, platform power and democratic accountability, and literacy and learning, the book grapples with existential concerns about the roles of humans and machines in media production, distribution, and consumption. In doing so, the authors explore how this transformative moment also offers an opportunity to break away from tired routines, re-evaluate what it means to do good work, and harness this emerging technology in ways that serve the public good.Written for students, media professionals, and anyone interested in journalism, this book makes the case for why this moment is uniquely significant for understanding journalism and public life.

The story of journalism has been one of acceleration, marked by increasing expectations to do more with less — to produce more news, participate on more platforms, and reach more diverse audiences. The rise of AI offers a constitutive moment, perhaps even a 'breaking point', for journalism: a junction where journalists are confronting existential questions about their roles, routines, and relationships. AI is transforming how we create, access, and make sense of information, and challenging journalism's longstanding authority. What is happening, why, and with what consequences?This book critically examines what AI means for journalists, audiences, and the future of news. Exploring questions about human labor and creativity, platform power and democratic accountability, and literacy and learning, the book grapples with existential concerns about the roles of humans and machines in media production, distribution, and consumption. In doing so, the authors explore how this transformative moment also offers an opportunity to break away from tired routines, re-evaluate what it means to do good work, and harness this emerging technology in ways that serve the public good.Written for students, media professionals, and anyone interested in journalism, this book makes the case for why this moment is uniquely significant for understanding journalism and public life.

Artificial intelligence can no longer be confined to research and development efforts in a handful of STEM disciplines. It now actively participates in and shapes how we—all of us—work, communicate, learn, and create. Understanding Artificial Intelligence offers a clear and critical guide to this transformative technology, written especially for students and scholars in the arts, humanities, and social sciences.Bringing together insights from philosophy, history, media studies, and communication, award-winning educator David J. Gunkel explains what AI is, how it works, and why it matters. The book introduces key concepts—from algorithms, neural networks, and deep learning to natural language processing, large language models, and generative AI—while examining the cultural narratives and the political, social, and ethical debates that surround them. Readers are invited to explore how AI redefines creativity, authorship, responsibility, and even what it means to be human.Balancing accessible technical explanation with rigorous critical reflection, Understanding Artificial Intelligence equips readers to engage with AI technologies with confidence and discernment. It is both a map of today's rapidly evolving AI landscape and a call to participate in shaping its future—essential reading for anyone who wants to understand how artificial intelligence will transform knowledge, culture, and everyday life.