DigiSoc: Towards a Positive Digital Society

AI and the Future of Work - Anastasia Siapka

In this episode, Anastasia Siapka discusses her research on AI and the future of work through the lens of neo-Aristotelian ethics. She challenges the prevalent negative outlook on AI's impact on employment by proposing a vision of “human flourishing” facilitated by AI, and advocating for a reconfiguration of work and leisure that prioritises well-being. Anastasia also explores the role of law and policy in shaping AI's development to serve human interests and the potential for broader societal benefits. This episode was recorded on 7 May 2024

Employee participation in Industry 4.0 - Yennef Vereycken

In this episode, Yennef Vereycken talks about his research on employee participation in technological innovation processes. Yennef explains how his work investigates the quality of working life, the power dynamics between employers and employees, and the impact of new technologies, like automation and data collection, on workplace relations. He highlights the importance of involving employees in decision-making to ensure positive outcomes from technological advancements and also briefly touches upon the differences in employee participation across Belgium, the Netherlands, and the USA. This episode was recorded on 7 May 2024

Diabetes Self-Management Platform - Genet Tadese Aboye

In Sub-Saharan Africa there is a lack of access to healthcare technologies, which is aggravated by a digital divide. As mobile phones are widely available however, this offers an opportunity to integrate them into the healthcare system. In this episode, Genet Tadese Aboye talks about how she is designing and developing a mobile digital health platform for self-management of diabetes for people living with diabetes in Sub-Saharan Africa. She employs a human-centered design approach that involves patients with diabetes and other stakeholders in the development of the platform, with the aim of improving the health outcomes of society as a whole. This episode was recorded on 30 April 2024

Videogames and Gambling - Maarten Denoo

The line between videogames and gambling is blurring in the past decade, especially with the advent of monetisation of videogames. Children are particularly vulnerable, as they are progressively exposed to gambling in their games, potentially leading to problematic behaviour. In this episode, Maarten Denoo brings some nuance in this debate, without resulting to moral panic. He discusses how this technological phenomenon can be addressed from different perspectives, e.g. legal, ethical, or design. As an example, lootboxes that offer random awards are legally banned in Belgium, but players can easily circumvent this ban, so other approaches are needed. This episode was recorded on 18 April 2024

AI and the Teacher’ Role - Kristina Krushinskaia

AI is developing rapidly, but teachers not always use the opportunities inside and outside the classroom in an optimal way. In this episode, Kristina Krushinskaia explains what the impact of artificial intelligence is on the transformation of the teacher’s role, and how they can benefit from it. The most obvious benefit is how it can support the development of personalised learning or providing them with data for informed decision making, e.g. which students need help or support. AI can also save time for teachers, for example with grading or administrative tasks. However, Kristina argues that the goal is not to replace teachers, but to free time for them to spend more on interaction with students. This episode was recorded on 9 April 2024