Democratising Artificial Intelligence through Culture

“AI systems should be viewed and utilized as common cultural assets, designed not just for the public but also by the public.” 
(Seoyoung Choi & Miro Leon Bucher)

Join us for the lecture Democratising Artificial Intelligence through Culture, an event based on the research study of the same name by authors Seoyoung Choi and Miro Leon Bucher that reimagines AI as a commons: a publicly funded, community-driven infrastructure enabling active participation in shaping AI systems.

Conducted in Seoul, the study combines theory and practice, introducing “critical data injection” as a method for communities to influence representation in generative AI. At a Yonsei University workshop, participants built local image datasets and trained LoRA models to create alternative urban narratives—supported by a LoRA Toolkit designed for non-experts.

On December 16, Miro Leon Bucher will present the study and explore how artists and cultural practitioners can drive this paradigm shift.

Discover how inclusive AI can emerge through intercultural collaboration, shared perspectives, and democratic participation.

The study Democratising Artificial Intelligence through Culture is part of ifa’s Research Programme “Culture and Foreign Policy”. This program brings together experts to explore key issues at the intersection of culture and international relations, fostering dialogue among academics, practitioners, policymakers, and civil society.

The full study can be found here.

Afterwards, Professor Juyong Park (KAIST) will briefly present the results of the AI workshop ‘Shaping AI: Ethics, Power, and Responsibility’ held on November 28 and 29.

About the authors

• Seoyoung Choi is a political scientist based in Seoul, South Korea, whose research centres on decolonial feminist international relations theory and methodology. She holds a PhD in Political Science from Yonsei University. She is currently a Visiting Researcher at the Social Science Research Institute at Yonsei University and an Adjunct Lecturer at Kangwon National University and University of Seoul. 
• Miro Leon Bucher is a media artist and researcher exploring the ethical and aesthetic dimensions of emerging technologies, with a particular focus on open-source AI in art and architecture. They hold an M.A. in Philosophy and Social and Cultural Anthropology from the University of Cologne and currently work as an Artistic Scientific Associate in the Academic and Research Department for Artistic Methods at RWTH Aachen University. Their transdisciplinary practice spans artistic research, curation, and production, drawing on utopian thinking to explore visions for the future. Bucher has lived and worked between Germany and the Republic of Korea, contributing to international projects at the intersection of art, science, and technology. 

*You can find the latest information about the event on our social media channels.
**The workshop is part of the German Innovation Days 2025, hosted by the German Embassy in Seoul.