What does AI mean for communication and media studies?

The latest issue of Aviso features a debate entitled “Communication science at a turning point?” on the question of what the spread of AI means for communication and media studies. Andreas Hepp from ZeMKI is participating in the debate.

In the latest issue of Aviso – the journal of the German Communication Association (DGPuK) – a debate entitled “Communication studies at a turning point? How AI is turning the academic world upside down” discusses the question of what the spread of AI means for communication and media studies. Andreas Hepp from ZeMKI is participating in the debate, addressing what it means for science as an organization when the use of AI becomes the norm. His key point: even if AI-based systems are only just becoming established in the organization, we should already be considering how they should be appropriately designed at the organizational level and participate in their development. Otherwise, once again, the only option will be to adopt systems that have been developed according to different values.

The debate was initiated by Gerhard Vowe and Olaf Jandura, with other participating experts including Anna Sophie Kümpel, Marlis Prinzing, Michael Scharkow, Sophia Volk, and Gregor Wiedemann. The complete debate can be found in issue 81 of Aviso: https://www.dgpuk.de/sites/default/files/fachgruppen/2025-10-20%20Aviso%2081%2002-2025%20Bildschirm%20mit%20Lesezeichen.pdf