City University of Hong Kong
CityUHK Announcement Portal (CAP)
City University of Hong Kong
CityUHK Announcement Portal (CAP)

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COM Research Seminar: Mapping the sociotechnical imaginaries of generative AI in UK, US, Chinese, and Indian newspapers by Professor John DOWNEY
(POSTED: 2026-08-26 9:57 AM )
COM Research Seminar: COM Research Seminar: Mapping the sociotechnical imaginaries of generative AI in UK, US, Chinese, and Indian newspapers by Professor John DOWNEY, Comparative Media Analysis and Associate Pro-Vice Chancellor, Loughborough University, UK. Date & Time: 2 September 2026, 16:00 - 17:30. Venue: Multimedia Laboratory (M5055),5/F, Run Run Shaw Creative Media Centre, please click https://www.cityu.edu.hk/com/Public/AppForms/StI_AppForm.aspx?id=1512 to register for the seminar by 28 September 2026. Language: English. Abstract Generative artificial intelligence has sparked a widespread public discourse, oscillating between utopian and dystopian visions about a technologically determined near future. In this paper, I employ the concept of AI imaginary to examine the diverse and contested visions of the supposed impact of generative artificial intelligence on society. Utilising Cave and Dihal’s conceptual framework, I develop a quantitative methodology to map the utopian and dystopian narratives of generative artificial intelligence. Analysing newspapers from the United Kingdom, the United States, China and India, I uncover significant differences in media representations through content analysis and computational topic modelling. Findings reveal a dystopian perspective in the United Kingdom and the United States, focusing on challenges such as workforce displacement and misinformation, whereas in China and India, the narrative is more utopian, highlighting potential benefits for technological leadership, economic growth and social advancement. The study provides methodological and conceptual tools for a comparative examination of the sociotechnical imaginaries of generative artificial intelligence. About the speaker: John Downey is Professor of Comparative Media Analysis and Associate Pro-Vice Chancellor at Loughborough University, UK. He was elected to the Academy of European Sciences in 2022 and to the Academy of Social Sciences in the UK in 2025. He is a former President of the European Communication Research and Education Association (2021-2024). He is currently Deputy Chair of the Communication, Media, and Information Sciences sub-panel of the UK’s 2029 Research Excellence Framework (REF) evaluation exercise. His research interests include environmental communication, media and politics in India, and the impact of AI on the cultural and creative industries. For enquiries, please call 34428677.
Category:
Research Seminar
Department:
Department of Media and Communication (COM)
Venue:
Multimedia Laboratory (M5055), 5/F Run Run Shaw Creative Media Centre
Start Date:
Not Applicable
End Date:
2026-08-28 23:55