AI Influence: Mechanisms, Amplifiers, and Consequences
In AI Influence: Mechanisms, Amplifiers, and Consequences, our lab director, Prof. John Wihbey and team examines how artificial intelligence is reshaping the ways information spreads, perceptions form, and public behavior shifts. He outlines the core mechanisms by which AI systems shape communication - from automated content generation to precision targeting - while identifying the platform dynamics that amplify these effects across digital networks. Prof. Wihbey highlights emerging risks, including accelerated misinformation flows, feedback loops that distort public opinion, and structural changes to how citizens encounter authoritative knowledge. At the same time, he points to opportunities for designing governance frameworks and institutional safeguards that can keep pace with rapidly evolving influence technologies. The piece underscores that as AI becomes increasingly embedded in media, politics, and civic life, understanding its influence pathways is essential for protecting democratic resilience.
