Big AI: Platforms, Dependency, and Power

Dear Colleagues,

From communication and access to information, from commerce to voting habits, there’s hardly a segment of our lives that isn’t touched by giant US-based digital platforms. But what happens when the likes of Google, Amazon and Meta create digital ecospheres extending from cloud infrastructure to the amassing of data and the apps in our pocket? What sort of dependencies arise and what does it mean for personal, economic and political relations?

How does Artificial Intelligence factor into the equation? It’s been said that AI is a game-changer. It enables companies to rapidly expand the depth and breadth of their digital platforms and apps, from programming to data analysis, the cloud and user interaction.

We want to discuss these questions at our next lunch event on June 3. Our guests are Professor Fernando van der Vlist from the University of Amsterdam and Professor Anne Helmond from Utrecht University. Both are experts in digital platforms and apps, their ecosystems, data, and AI in culture and society.

The talk entitled “Big AI: Platforms, Dependency, and Power” examines the evolving entanglements of digital platforms and critically analyzes their role in shaping technological, informational and economic dependencies.

We look forward to discussing these issues in more depth on June 3.

The event is scheduled for 12:30 on June 3, 2025, in La Redoute in Bad Godesberg.

This is your personal invitation. Lunch is followed by the talk with our experts and time for questions and discussion. The costs (30,00 EUR) for the lunch are collected in cash upon arrival at La Redoute.

We ask for a binding commitment by May 28. Please understand that if you cancel after May 30, you will have to pay for the food provided.

Kindly inform us of any special dietary requirements (intolerances, vegetarians) when you register.

We look forward to your attendance.

Best regards

Kristin Zeier