{"id":46374,"date":"2026-06-01T12:01:17","date_gmt":"2026-06-01T16:01:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/?post_type=bu-program-page&#038;p=46374"},"modified":"2026-06-01T14:29:58","modified_gmt":"2026-06-01T18:29:58","slug":"project-on-ai-and-the-future","status":"publish","type":"bu-program-page","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/programs\/emerging-media-studies\/project-on-ai-and-the-future\/","title":{"rendered":"Project on AI and the Future"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The <strong>Project on AI and the Future<\/strong> is a multi\u2011year research initiative led by James E. Katz at Boston University\u2019s College of Communication. The project examines how artificial intelligence, social robots, and emerging communication systems shape everyday life, public institutions, and expectations about the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The project investigates how AI systems\u2014from conversational agents to autonomous tools\u2014affect communication, autonomy, and social order. It brings together Katz\u2019s long\u2011standing work on technological change, human\u2013machine relationships, and public perceptions of emerging media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Research areas include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong>AI in everyday communication<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Human\u2013robot interaction and social roles<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Privacy, autonomy, and algorithmic decision\u2011making<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Public expectations and imaginaries of technological futures<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The project aims to produce empirically grounded insights that inform public debate, policy development, and responsible technology design. The initiative supports:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong>Empirical studies<\/strong> using surveys, interviews, and cross\u2011cultural comparisons<\/li><li><strong>Scholarly publications<\/strong>, including books, journal articles, and edited volumes<\/li><li><strong>Workshops and invited talks<\/strong> with researchers and practitioners<\/li><li><strong>Curricular integration<\/strong> of findings into BU courses on emerging media and human\u2013AI communication<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3><strong>Even<\/strong>ts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Notable achievements of the project include a series of workshops and conferences that address issues when they begin to rise in prominence in academic or policy discussions. Recent examples include the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Lights, Camera, Algorithm!<\/strong><br><strong>AI\u2019s Role in the Ethics and Identities of Korean Hallyu and French Media<\/strong><br><strong>October 8\u20139, 2025<\/strong><br>A two\u2011day international workshop hosted at Boston University\u2019s College of Communication. The event examines how AI technologies\u2014such as automated dubbing, synthetic video, deepfakes, and AI\u2011generated characters\u2014are reshaping media production, cultural identity, and creative labor in South Korea\u2019s Hallyu (the Korean Wave) and in French popular media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Beyond the Binge<\/strong><br><strong>Ethical Implications of AI for Entertainment and Education<\/strong><br><strong>April 10\u201311, 2025<\/strong><br>A multidisciplinary conference exploring how AI\u2011driven recommendation systems and algorithmic curation influence entertainment, education, and cultural consumption. The two\u2011day program brings together scholars from computer science, media studies, philosophy, and the humanities to examine the ethical and societal implications of AI\u2011mediated choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>AI, robots and the future of human relationships<\/strong><br><strong>Are we crossing a threshold?<br><em>May 13, 2026<\/em><\/strong><br>University-wide lecture, Institute of Advanced Studies, Universit\u00e0 di Bologna by James E. Katz,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Coming Soon:<\/em> <strong>Human\u2013AI and Human\u2013Robot Interaction Workshop<\/strong><br><strong>Academic Year 2026\u201327<\/strong><br>Planning is underway for a workshop focused on emerging research in human\u2013AI and human\u2013robot interaction. The program will bring together scholars working on communication, social integration, and the ethical dimensions of AI\u2011mediated interaction. Details will be posted in the fall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3><strong>Affiliates<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The Project on AI and the Future collaborates with a small group of affiliated scholars whose work aligns with its focus on AI, communication, and society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong>Etienne Barnard<\/strong>, North\u2011West University, South Africa<\/li><li><strong>Dongpeng Huang<\/strong>, Harvard University<\/li><li><strong>Chi Vu<\/strong>, Boston University<\/li><li><strong>Denis Wu<\/strong>, Boston University<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-4 is-cropped is-style-default\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"\/com\/files\/2026\/06\/Etienne-Barnard-headshot_2026-04-23-768x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"46389\" data-full-url=\"\/com\/files\/2026\/06\/Etienne-Barnard-headshot_2026-04-23.jpeg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/programs\/emerging-media-studies\/46374-2\/etienne-barnard-headshot_2026-04-23\/\" class=\"wp-image-46389\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/files\/2026\/06\/Etienne-Barnard-headshot_2026-04-23-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/files\/2026\/06\/Etienne-Barnard-headshot_2026-04-23-477x636.jpeg 477w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/files\/2026\/06\/Etienne-Barnard-headshot_2026-04-23-1152x1536.jpeg 1152w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/files\/2026\/06\/Etienne-Barnard-headshot_2026-04-23-500x667.jpeg 500w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/files\/2026\/06\/Etienne-Barnard-headshot_2026-04-23-1000x1334.jpeg 1000w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/files\/2026\/06\/Etienne-Barnard-headshot_2026-04-23-750x1000.jpeg 750w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/files\/2026\/06\/Etienne-Barnard-headshot_2026-04-23-600x800.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/files\/2026\/06\/Etienne-Barnard-headshot_2026-04-23.jpeg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"636\" height=\"826\" src=\"\/com\/files\/2026\/06\/Dongpeng-Huang-headshot-4.26-e1780336971777.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"46388\" data-full-url=\"\/com\/files\/2026\/06\/Dongpeng-Huang-headshot-4.26-e1780336971777.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/programs\/emerging-media-studies\/46374-2\/dongpeng-huang-headshot-4-26\/\" class=\"wp-image-46388\"\/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"800\" src=\"\/com\/files\/2026\/06\/ChiVu.png\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"46386\" data-full-url=\"\/com\/files\/2026\/06\/ChiVu.png\" data-link=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/programs\/emerging-media-studies\/46374-2\/chivu\/\" class=\"wp-image-46386\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/files\/2026\/06\/ChiVu.png 800w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/files\/2026\/06\/ChiVu-636x636.png 636w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/files\/2026\/06\/ChiVu-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/files\/2026\/06\/ChiVu-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/files\/2026\/06\/ChiVu-500x500.png 500w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/files\/2026\/06\/ChiVu-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/files\/2026\/06\/ChiVu-600x600.png 600w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/files\/2026\/06\/ChiVu-550x550.png 550w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/files\/2026\/06\/ChiVu-710x710.png 710w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/files\/2026\/06\/ChiVu-100x100.png 100w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"310\" height=\"504\" src=\"\/com\/files\/2026\/06\/denis_wu-310x504-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"46387\" data-full-url=\"\/com\/files\/2026\/06\/denis_wu-310x504-1.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/programs\/emerging-media-studies\/46374-2\/denis_wu-310x504-1\/\" class=\"wp-image-46387\"\/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-caption\">Affiliated scholars, left to right: Etienne Barnard, North-West University, South Africa; Dongpen Huang, Harvard University; Chu Vu, Boston University; an Denis Wu, Boston University.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3><strong>Opportunities for collaboration<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Collaboration with the Project on AI and the Future is <strong>selective and primarily by invitation<\/strong>, with external participation limited to scholars whose research aligns closely with the project\u2019s focus on AI and society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A small number of <strong>BU Emerging Media Studies (EMS) students<\/strong> may apply for volunteer research roles. These positions are competitive and intended for students who demonstrate strong analytical skills and a clear interest in human\u2013AI communication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3><strong>Selected Publications<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The following publications illustrate the project\u2019s longstanding contributions to understanding personal communication technologies, internet use, and emerging forms of human\u2013AI interaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Foundational works on communication and internet use<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Katz, J. E. (Ed.). (2003).&nbsp;<em>Machines that become us: The social context of personal communication technology<\/em>. Transaction Publishers.<\/li><li>Katz, J. E., &amp; Mark Aakhus (Eds.). (2002).&nbsp;<em>Perpetual contact: Mobile communication, private talk, public performance<\/em>. Cambridge University Press. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1017\/CBO9780511489479<\/li><li>Katz, J. E., &amp; Ronald E. Rice. (2002).&nbsp;<em>Social consequences of internet use: Access, involvement, and interaction<\/em>. MIT Press.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Recent work on AI, automation, and technological futures<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Katz, J. E. (Ed.). (2024).&nbsp;<em>Nudging choices through media: A social science perspective on choice architecture and communication<\/em>. Routledge. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4324\/9781003372507<\/li><li>Katz, J. E. (Ed.). (2024).&nbsp;<em>Perceiving the future through new communication technologies<\/em>. Routledge. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4324\/9781003372293<\/li><li>Novozhilova, E., Mays, K., &amp; Katz, J. E. (2024). Looking towards an automated future: U.S. attitudes towards future artificial intelligence instantiations and their effect.&nbsp;<em>Humanities &amp; Social Sciences Communications<\/em>, 11, Article 132. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1057\/s41599-024-02625-1<\/li><li>Novozhilova, E., Vu, C., &amp; Katz, J. E. (2025). From moral panic to normalization: Comparing users and non-users of AI companionship apps.&nbsp;<em>AI &amp; Society<\/em>. Advance online publication. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s00146-024-01896-9<\/li><li>Ramanathan, Aishwarya, Huang, Dongpeng, &amp; Katz, J. E. (2025). Synthesizing insights on AI in Africa: A comprehensive qualitative analysis.&nbsp;<em>Southern African Conference for Artificial Intelligence Research<\/em>, 469\u2013486.<\/li><\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Project on AI and the Future is a multi\u2011year research initiative led by James E. 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