Reframing AI Narratives

Die Debatte um KI wird von einem Hype geprägt. Das Projekt befähigt junge Menschen, vorherrschende Tech-Narrative kritisch zu hinterfragen und eigene Gegennarrative zu entwickeln – mithilfe von Workshops, Filmen und einer öffentlichen Ausst

Factsheet

  • Schools involved Bern Academy of the Arts
    School of Engineering and Computer Science
  • Institute(s) Institute of Design Research
    Institute for Human Centered Engineering (HUCE)
  • Research unit(s) HUCE / Laboratory for Computer Perception and Virtual Reality
  • Funding organisation SNSF
  • Duration (planned) 01.05.2026 - 30.08.2027
  • Head of project Prof. Dr. Sarah Dégallier Rochat

Situation

The public debate on artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly dominated by a pronounced “AI hype”—a communication practice based on spectacular claims about the capabilities and supposed autonomy of AI systems that are often neither verifiable nor refutable. These narratives dominate the public debate and portray AI as inevitable and without alternative. As a result, factual knowledge and ethical, social, and political questions are overshadowed.

Course of action

The core of the project is to harness the power of storytelling: young people must be able to critically deconstruct dominant narratives about technology and create their own counter-narratives. To achieve these goals, two closely related types of activities are planned: four series of workshops organized in various institutions, during which participants create short films about their experiences with technology and their visions of the future. A public exhibition featuring film screenings, roundtable discussions with experts, interactive workshops, and a poster contest, aimed at broadening the public debate. This project examines and explores how creative forms of expression can be harnessed and serve as a model for diversifying technological visions of the future and strengthening democratic participation. It combines critical analysis of technologies with methods drawn from the arts and speculative design to bring together emotional, creative, and intellectual dimensions.

This project contributes to the following SDGs

  • 10: Reduced inequalities
  • 12: Responsible consumption and production
  • 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions