Prof. Michael Prieler, Ph.D., an Austrian professor of media studies at Hallym University in South Korea, delivered a lecture last December 7, 2024, at the Tanghalang Teresita Quirino, UST Benavides Building. Prieler, a tenured professor at Hallym’s Media School, discussed the timely topic of the study and practice of communication and media in an age saturated by artificial intelligence (AI) technology.
His lecture, “Diversity in the Age of AI: A Study of AI-Generated Models on Instagram,” revolved around examples of how AI-generated models and influencers take advantage of Instagram to forge their identity and to carry on with their business or online presence. While AI may have a positive role in this information age, this online activity may also impact the inclusion, non-inclusion, and misrepresentation of specific sectors in the virtual sphere. The issues the study explored were the following: “diversity” in Instagram posting, and how AI figured out which information to use in representing specific individuals and groups online. As Prieler’s abstract states, “the project aims to uncover patterns and trends in how AI-generated content portrays human-like diversity.”
Prieler has been a visiting professor at various universities, such as the University of Illinois, City University of Hong Kong, and Temple University, Japan. He has published in various reputable journals and ranked among the top 1% of advertising scholars worldwide. His research interests include advertising, new media, and diversity in the media.
The lecture was delivered before an audience of communication and journalism majors in the UST Graduate School and BA Communication students from the Faculty of Arts and Letters. Present during the event were academic staff of GS Dr. Beyan Hagos, Program Lead Dr. Joyce Arriola, and Dr. Elizabeth Hashim Arenas, Faculty Secretary of the Graduate School.
