BEA2025

This panel will explore both the current state-of-the-art technologies such as: writing automation/algorithmic journalism, A.I. image (and moving video) creation, audience analysis/privacy, A.I. integrated into cameras and editing software, and emerging technologies. Panelists explore how these were anticipated in films and TV, books/novels, (from Lang's "Metropolis" to Spike Jones' "Her") and look farther back into history for examples of previous technologies that attempted to do the same. (e.g. the literal 'Mechanical Turk') The panel will also explore how journalism both created and debunked the overhype of these technologies.
Moderator: William Hanff, University of District of Columbia
Panelists: William Hanff, University of the District of Columbia; What’s Old is New, What’s New is Old
The presentation will explore the history of automation (from print typesetting to A.I. chatbots) in broadcasting and media. From this history it will confront the overhype of technology in reporting in the context of technological determinism/media archeology, famous tech news stories (or hoaxes), and the visual representation of automation/technology in TV and Film. It will also include a juxtaposition and exploration of how earlier imagination of technology impacted later designs, and case studies of current A.I. uses in media production and overhype by corporations and investigative journalism in debunking frauds and hype.

MJ Robinson, Brooklyn College/CUNY; Dear AI Autocorrect: I move your son mulch” or “How many Hal 9000’s does it take to change a lightbulb?”
This presentation uses some of the most storied and arguably funny autocorrect fails as a jumping off point for a consideration of how hype about AI’s language processing and learning has always outpaced its actual creative abilities – even and especially with the explosion of generative AI writing apps and the writing about AI writing apps. A historical consideration of the mechanical/computer-aided creative production of the creative industries and role that automata/computers have played in them will follow with a specific focus on the inability of generative AI to generate certain types of content – such as that which relies upon humor, double entendre, wordplay, context, complex metaphor or simile and the implications of this for the culture and media industries.

Nadine El Sayed, The American University in Cairo; n in Science Journalism and Indie Music Production
Science Journalism and Indie Music Production — both are known to have examples of "overhype" and both claim to be 'disrupted' by AI and automation --- and both will probably weather cultural changes pretty well, because of the care and individualization that goes into both well-produced music and well-communicated science research/journalism.