The MediaFutures Annual Meeting 2024, themed Trust and Usability of Generative AI, was the largest and most impactful conference on media and artificial intelligence ever organized by our Research Centre. Over two days, more than 130 participants gathered at Scandic Ørnen in Bergen to delve into cutting-edge advancements in responsible media technology and innovation. Esteemed keynote speakers from Amazon Web Services and Dataminr headlined the event, joined by representatives from organizations such as BBC Verify, TV2, Nokia Bell Labs, and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, who delivered thought-provoking presentations. The Annual Meeting is the flagship event of our Centre and serves as a platform for researchers and industry representatives to exchange knowledge, foster collaboration, and envision the future of media and AI.
The event began with a demo and poster exhibition that showcased pioneering projects from MediaFutures researchers and students. Attendees explored innovations including advanced recommender systems for editors, political news, and streaming platforms; large language model (LLM)-based event extractors; conflict analysis tools for journalists; AI-driven fact-checking; and AI-powered moderation for broadcast political debates. These projects highlighted the creative synergy between MediaFutures and its diverse industry partners, offering a glimpse into the future of AI-driven media experiences. The formal program began with a warm welcome from Siri Gloppen, the new Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Bergen; Christian Birkeland, CTO of TV2 and Chairman of MediaFutures’ Steering Board; and Centre Director Christoph Trattner. Attendees were introduced to a thoughtfully curated program focusing on responsible and trustworthy AI, combating misinformation, and leveraging AI to drive innovation in news media.
Keynote speeches on the opening day set the stage for inspiring discussions about responsible AI. Vanessa Murdock of Amazon Web Services delivered an enlightening talk on Responsible AI in the Generative Era, addressing ethical challenges in emerging technologies. Alex Jaimes of Dataminr followed with a presentation titled Responsible AI in Critical Real-Time Applications, highlighting the significance of Ai enabled decision-making and accountability in high-stakes scenarios, such as disaster response and emergency management.
The afternoon featured an in-depth exploration of misinformation and disinformation, with Christoph Trattner and Helge O. Svela presenting initial findings from Project Reynir, which focuses on trust and false narratives in media. A following panel discussion with experts from BBC Verify, Faktisk.no, Wolftech, Factiverse, and Media Cluster Norway highlighted practical and technological strategies to tackle these pressing challenges.
The day concluded with the Poster & Demo Award ceremony following interactive pitches, recognizing the innovative efforts of participants. The winners included PhD candidate Huiling You (Best Demo), PhD candidate Ayoub El Majjodi (Best Poster – Researcher), and UiB student Snorre Åldstedt (Best Poster – Student). The evening wrapped up with a lively conference dinner featuring a slam poetry act and a DJ set, offering a relaxed space for networking and informal discussions.
The momentum carried into the second day, beginning with a teaser for John Magnus Dahl’s forthcoming book, Making a World with the Smartphone. His postdoctoral research at MediaFutures provides a fresh perspective on how young boys in Bergen engage with smartphones to shape their worldviews through digital technology.
The program continued with a thought-provoking presentation by Sanja Šćepanović of the prestigious Nokia Bell Labs in Cambridge, who explored responsible AI from design to deployment, emphasizing the critical role of ethics throughout the process. Kayleen Devlin of BBC Verify shared insights on addressing falsehoods in uncertain times, while Lubos Steskal and Chris Ronald Hermansen of TV2 presented their experimental project KI-Kjetil—a virtual TV anchor avatar used during the U.S. elections. This initiative demonstrated the innovative potential of AI while sparking discussions on its practical implications. The session—and the entire event—concluded with Damian Trilling from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, who discussed responsible recommender systems for news, highlighting the need to balance user engagement with ethical considerations.
Reflecting on the event, Christoph Trattner, Director of MediaFutures, expressed pride in the collaborative spirit and professional organization of the event.
“After four years of operation, MediaFutures has established itself as a leader in groundbreaking projects with industry partners. This year’s Annual Meeting showcased how we combine research-driven innovation and responsibility in media and AI, bringing brilliant minds together to address critical challenges. I am incredibly proud of our team’s dedication to making this vision a reality,” Trattner said.
The 2024 Annual Meeting highlighted MediaFutures’ commitment to driving responsible AI and media technology innovation, solidifying its position as a leading hub for collaboration between academia and industry. We are excited for what the next four years will bring!