ABSTRACT
Although artificial intelligence (AI) has been in development since at least the 1950s, the resurgence and emergence of increasingly low-cost and scalable AI technologies presents as a point of both celebration and concern for the contemporary media and information ecosystem. AI and generative AI usage is surging in a time of increased discord, incivility, and misinformation—such concerns overshadowing the potential for AI to improve and optimize human communication. To this end, this edited volume gathers media and communications scholars and practitioners to engage in discussions and exchange ideas about current trends and developments in the field. The book serves as an introductory text to the myriad applications and challenges of generative AI for media scholars and practitioners alike, spanning three domains of inquiry: academic scholarship, research-informed professional practice, and global perspectives. As generative AI develops at a rapid pace, these explorations provide a calibration point for discussion and debate around their role in media and communication in an increasingly complex world.
