with Prof. Dr. Andreas Jungherr,

 

and Nathan Sanders, 

 

moderated by

Postdoctoral Researcher, Center for Advanced Internet Studies (CAIS)

 

Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming politics on both sides of the Atlantic. Campaigns increasingly use AI to analyze voter concerns, tailor messages to different audiences, generate content, and communicate with voters at unprecedented scale. These technologies have the potential to make political engagement more responsive and effective, while also changing how candidates, parties, and citizens interact with one another. At the same time, concerns about disinformation, deepfakes, transparency, and public trust have fueled growing debates in both the United States and Europe. Increasingly, AI is not only shaping election campaigns but also emerging as a topic of growing concern among voters, surfacing in debates about data centers, energy consumption, jobs, competitiveness, and economic growth. As the United States approaches the 2026 midterm elections and European democracies grapple with similar technological changes, understanding the political impact of AI has become more important than ever.

 

We are looking forward to discussing these topics with:

 

Prof. Dr. Andreas Jungherr is a professor of Political Science and Digital Transformation at the University of Bamberg and one of Germany’s leading scholars on the intersection of AI, digital media, and politics. His research explores how artificial intelligence influences political communication, public debate, and democratic processes. He is currently authoring a book for Cambridge University Press on the governance and societal impact of AI.

 

Nathan Sanders is a data scientist, civic technologist, and co-author of Rewiring Democracy: How AI Will Transform Our Politics, Government, and Citizenship. He is an affiliate of Harvard University's Berkman Klein Center and helped create the Harvard Climate Justice Design Fellowship program and the Massachusetts Platform for Legislative Engagement. Nathan Sanders has been writing about science and technology since 2005 and his work has appeared in outlets including The New York Times, The Atlantic, Wired, Foreign Policy, and Time.

 

Anne Goldmann is a postdoctoral researcher within the research programme “Digital Democratic Innovations” at the Center for Advanced Internet Studies (CAIS), where she studies the impact of artificial intelligence and digital transformation on democratic institutions and governance. Her work examines AI policy, regulation, and the challenges and opportunities that new technologies create for democracy and political participation.

 

The event will be held in English.

 

 

This event is kindly supported by the State Government of North Rhine-Westphalia.