Keynote
We live in a world of increasing social fragmentation, toxic polarization and misinformation that is often exacerbated by social media and AI chatbots. The power of digital networks and generative AI can be harnessed, however, to foster constructive communication at scale. This talk presents the conceptual framing, research and deployment of a human-technology system that amplifies and enhances ancient wisdoms of dialogue and listening to build trust and bridge divides. The system brings together a platform for data privacy management, speech analytics and data visualization with human-led processes of facilitated dialogue key for the sharing of personal experience and sensemaking. It has been successfully used by communities across the United States by local governments, youth organizations and local media. The platform will soon include an integrated mobile social network app for scaled participation and analysis tools powered by large language models for efficient sensemakin.
Speaker:
Deb Roy (US)
Deb Roy (US)
Deb Roy is Professor of Media Arts and Sciences at MIT where he directs the MIT Center for Constructive Communication, and co-founder and CEO of Cortico, a social technology nonprofit that develops and operates a conversation platform designed to surface underheard voices both within communities and across divides. His research on applied machine learning, human-machine system design, and understanding large-scale social media ecosystems is directed toward developing safe and trusted spaces for meaningful, non-polarizing human connection and civic impact.