Media Academy Alumni Spotlight on 'Politics in the Age of AI'

In this special virtual Alumni Network meeting and post-Academy wrap session, we invite Salzburg Media Academy alums Stephanie Ross (2018) and Oliver Ferris (2022) to share their firsthand experiences working on political campaigns in the USA and UK, offering unique perspectives from two of the world’s most influential democracies. As we approach the 2024 U.S. presidential election and witness global shifts in politics, this session will spotlight the converging and diverging realities of political campaigns in these different contexts—and how the rise of new technologies, particularly AI and social media algorithms, are reshaping the landscape of democracy.

From managing limited campaign resources to reaching an increasingly diverse and skeptical electorate, political candidates and strategists are relying on AI to craft targeted messages and influence voters. But with the rise of populism, polarization, and extremism, these technologies also carry significant risks. In this session, Steph and Ollie will explore the impact of AI on political advertising and campaigning, offering insights into how these powerful tools are changing not just political strategies, but also the nature of elections and democracy itself.

Join us for this thought-provoking session, where we’ll discuss the benefits, challenges, and ethical implications of emerging technologies in modern political campaigns. Be part of a compelling conversation that looks at the future of politics in the age of machines.