On October 3rd, we had the privilege of hosting a seminar with Dr. Elena Pilipets as part of the Visual Trust project. The session, titled "Networked Images and the Question of Authenticity", focused on the increasingly complex nature of visual cultures within digital platforms and how we perceive authenticity in an era dominated by generative AI and social media.
Dr. Pilipets, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Siegen, specializes in the study of internet subcultures and platform-based multimodal data. Her current work covers a range of fascinating topics, including Tumblr memes, TikTok videos, Instagram bots, Twitter comment cultures, participatory propaganda, and the ethical challenges posed by generative AI.
Her seminar gave us fresh insights into the methods used to empirically analyze these digital phenomena, shedding light on how our understanding of authenticity and trust is evolving alongside technological advancements.