Our Approach:
The research group “Social trust in learning systems” focuses primarily on the development and framing of a context-specific understanding of processes, methods and consequences concerning learning systems. We approach these systems as “enabling technologies”, assessing the possibilities for a responsible handling as well as the potential risks in various fields of application. The research group focuses in particular on questions concerning societal trust in learning systems.
Basic research lines:
• Understanding the interrelationship between ICT, Digitalization and Social Change, using approaches from technology assessment, philosophy of science and technology, transition studies and STS.
Special application contexts
• the role of trust in the governance of AI;
• the erosion of trust through mis- and disinformation by deepfake technologies;
• the interrelationship between risk perception, social acceptance and regulation of AI-controlled technical artifacts;
• understanding the trust heuristics of actors in the innovation process;
• social acceptance (and acceptability) of automated vehicles
Our Methodology
• Hermeneutical discourse analysis
• Creation of risk and social acceptance typologies
• Comparative governance analysis
• Process dynamic tracking of trust networks