COM Research Seminar: AI in Communication: New Concepts, Theory and Research by Prof. S. Shyam SUNDAR

04 Mar 2024 (Mon)

On March 4, 2024, Professor S. Shyam Sundar, a distinguished authority from the Bellisario College of Communications at Pennsylvania State University, delivered a seminar titled "AI in Communication: New Concepts, Theory, and Research." The talk delved into novel ways to conceptualize AI's role in communication research, delineating key concepts and theoretical frameworks, particularly the HAII-TIME model developed by Prof. Sundar for studying Human-AI Interaction (HAII) based on the Theory of Interactive Media Effects (TIME). The seminar also covered recent research applications of this model in areas such as content moderation and recommendation systems, and addressed pressing issues related to AI system trustworthiness, focusing on transparency and explainability. Prof. Sundar's insights provided a formidable understanding of the intricacies of AI in communication, offering system designers and researchers actionable strategies for the integration of AI to enhance user engagement and trust. The seminar attracted over 40 individuals, including faculty members, Ph.D. students, and scholars from various disciplines.