Weizenbaum Publikationen

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Auflistung Weizenbaum Publikationen nach Forschungsbereichen "Digitale Infrastrukturen in der Demokratie"

Gerade angezeigt 1 - 10 von 10
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    Dynamics of Data Work in AI Implementation Processes
    (Weizenbaum Institute for the Networked Society, 2025-09) Schneidemesser, Lea; Schneiß, Daniel; Heim, Jana
    The discourse on automation and artificial intelligence (AI) highlights the critical yet underexplored role of data work. While previous studies have focused on data work in the production of AI systems, this article investigates its significance in subsequent implementation phases. Drawing on two in-depth case studies from traditional industries in Germany – one in manufacturing and one in administration – we explore the labor and power dynamics inherent in these processes. Our findings reveal that AI implementation necessitates additional data work which cannot be outsourced due to its reliance on organization-specific knowledge. This dependency fosters new labor relations and power dynamics among development companies, organizational management, and workers, often leading to tensions and negotiation challenges. We introduce the concept of data work facilitation to describe the unique labor emerging from these dependencies and identify potentials for a new power resource workers could employ – data work bargaining power.
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    Empowering People in Online Spaces: Democracy and Well-Being in Digital Societies
    (Weizenbaum Institute, 2025-09) Iglesias Keller, Clara; Ohme, Jakob; Buchner, Moritz
    The 7th Weizenbaum Conference, entitled “Empowering People in Online Spaces: Democracy and Well-being in Digital Societies,” took place in Berlin on 5–6 June 2025. Nearly 300 participants and speakers from over 25 countries came together to explore the digital challenges facing democracies today. The conference provided a platform for interdisciplinary and international exchange, focusing on democratic participation, digital infrastructures, and well-being in the digital age. It was convened by Weizenbaum research group leaders Clara Iglesias Keller and Jakob Ohme. The present collection of abstracts offers an overview of the talks and topics discussed at the conference. We would like to thank all participants for their valuable contributions. A total of 36 out of 58 speakers revised and submitted their long or short abstracts for inclusion.
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    Ethics of Data Work. Principles for Academic Data Work Requesters
    (Weizenbaum Institute, 2025-06) Yang, Tianling; Strippel, Christian; Keiner, Alexandra; Baker, Dylan; Chávez, Alexis; Kauffman, Krystal; Pohl, Marc; Sinders, Caroline; Miceli, Milagros
    The growing use of machine learning (ML) in academic research has led to a rising demand for large, labeled datasets. While the field initially relied on the labor of students and research assistants to label data, as models grew larger and more complex, there was a shift towards relying on large-scale, low-cost platforms like Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) to label data at scale. However, this shift comes with serious ethical concerns. Now part of a massive industry, many data work companies exploit workers, leaving many workers facing low wages and precarious working conditions, with little institutional oversight or protection. Despite the centrality of this labor to modern research, ethical codes and guidelines from academic societies rarely address the implications of outsourcing data work to platform-based workers. This paper advocates for the development of research ethics standards that ensure fair and responsible collaboration with data workers. We begin by defining the concept of “data work” and assessing how current ethical frameworks address it. We then highlight ongoing initiatives aimed at improving ethical regulation. Based on two focus groups and two expert workshops held at the Weizenbaum Institute in 2024, we propose a set of principles for academic data work requesters to guide ethical engagement with platform-based workers. Finally, we outline future steps for integrating these principles into scientific ethical codes and day-to-day research practices.
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    How Should We Regulate AI?
    (Weizenbaum Institute, 2023) Zech, Herbert
    In the last decade, artificial intelligence (AI) – which describes the mimicking of human intelligence using technology – has made significant progress. Driven by algorithmic design, computing power and large amounts of training data, machine learning has transformed information technology, which can now augment and replace human intelligence, something that was thought impossible just a decade ago. In 2018, the European Commission labelled AI a transformative technology with the potential to raise new ethical and legal questions. Now, with the advent of generative AI, which can create content that could previously only be created by human beings, this potential has become visible to the wider public. At the same time, the European Commission’s proposal for an Artificial Intelligence Act (AIA) (which is now entering the final legislative stage) indicates its intentions to regulate AI. This comment wishes to highlight some key points regarding the regulation of artificial intelligence and, in doing so, comment on the current proposal.
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    Innovating Democracy?
    (Weizenbaum Institute, 2023) Thiel, Thorsten; Berg, Sebastian; Rakowski, Niklas; Clute-Simon, Veza
    The article concerns the case of #WirVsVirus, a civic hackathon organized in reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic and officially endorsed by Germany’s federal government. It aims to address the normative implications of this politically oriented technological format. Specifically, it asks how civic hackathons formulate and negotiate different political representation claims. Our analysis shows that the hackathon constituted a successful representative claim on behalf of civic tech initiatives vis-à-vis the administrative state. While this claim primarily concerned establishing a new format for efficient and subsidiary problem-solving in the wake of the crisis, the hackathon’s participatory promises have only been partially fulfilled. The hackathon was rather open to input from civil society, enabling it to attract substantial public interest. Nonetheless, its technological-organizational structure and competitive, solution-oriented procedures meant that decision-making power remained largely with the hackathon’s organizers.
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    Open and Responsible Data Governance for Digital Sequence Information: Policy Paper in View of the Ongoing Process under the Convention for Biological Diversity to Establish a Benefit-Sharing Mechanism for Digital Sequence
    (Weizenbaum Institute, 2023) Klünker, Irma
    Open and Responsible Data Governance is a promising concept to help operationalize the FAIR and CARE principles for DSI-specific data governance. While the CARE principles ensure indigenous data sovereignty is respected, the FAIR principles ensure that monetary benefits from the use of DSI are generated and form a part of resource mobilization for the conservation of biodiversity.
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    Regulating Digital Platforms in Times of Democratic Crisis – What is Next for Germany and the EU?
    (Weizenbaum Institute, 2025-02) Iglesias Keller, Clara; Ohme, Jakob; Seiling, Lukas; Neuberger, Christoph
    This paper examines recent changes in the content moderation practices of major social media companies. Digital platforms have become a defining feature of contemporary societies. As their infrastructures increasingly mediate commercial activity, political organization, cultural life, and more, the retraction of measures meant to uphold standards and trust in their influence over online speech raises significant concerns. This paper briefly analyzes these developments in the context of ongoing processes of democratic erosion, particularly in the U.S. The goal is to foster future research and public debate by offering key insights into the implications of the current scenario for Germany and the European Union.
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    Shaping uncertain journeys into digital futures - perspectives on the digital and socio-ecological transformation
    (Nomos, 2025) Ullrich, André; Kox, Thomas; Zech, Herbert; Kox, Thomas; Ullrich, André; Zech, Herbert
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    Uncertain futures of work: The perception of generative AI in knowledge professions
    (Nomos, 2025) Butollo, Florian; Haase, Jennifer; Katzinski, Ann-Kathrin; Krüger, Anne K.; Kox, Thomas; Ullrich, André; Zech, Herbert
    The application of generative AI (GenAI) tools has led to widespread speculation about the implications of technological change for the future of cognitive work. This article provides insights on how the use of GenAI affects work practices in the fields of IT programming, science and coaching based on expert interviews and a quantitative survey among users of GenAI. Specifically, we ask about perceptions on skills, creativity, and authenticity, which we regard as key qualities of cognitive work. Contrary to widespread expectations that AI use would hollow out or substitute aspects of cognitive work, we find that there is a strong awareness for the meaning of the professional core in each field. We conclude that the use of AI provokes reflections about the meaning of human work in operating AI tools adequately and taking on responsibility for their results, thereby rather reinforcing its relevance.
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    Uncertain Journeys into Digital Futures: Inter- and Transdisciplinary Research for Mitigating Wicked Societal and Environmental Problems
    (Nomos, 2025) Kox, Thomas; Ullrich, André; Zech, Herbert
    The Weizenbaum Institute organised its sixth Annual Conference on the topic of “Uncertain journeys into digital futures” in Berlin in June 2024. The conference focused on the challenge of the digital transformation and the socio-ecological transformation of society which are closely interlinked and crucial for prospering futures of humanity. Challenges include the protection of people, democratic institutions and the environment, as well as enabling participation in shaping changes and an inclusive and fair life. Relevant topics for addressing these challenges are smart cities and urban transformation, digital technologies for sustainability, social justice, governance and citizen participation as well as ideas and visions of the future.