Media and Technology

Global Call for Submissions
Image + Bias

The Goethe-Institut, Gray Area, Fotomuseum Winterthur, and Artivive are launching an open call for artists, designers, and the general public to submit creative representations on the subject of bias.

Artificial Intelligence
The machine that unleashes our creativity

British mathematician Marcus du Sautoy is convinced that artificial intelligence (AI) can be as creative as humans and might even attain a state of consciousness in future: a discussion on the current creative limitations of AI, its ability to surprise us, and how AI changes the way our species is looking at its own creativity.

“Net September” Social Technologies Conference
Dance of the Algorithms

In early September, Teplitsa. Technologies for Social Good and the Goethe-Institut Moscow held an online conference on the social implications of digitisation: “Net September” dealt with the challenges and possibilities of new technologies. 

Digital Services Act
Taming the data kraken

The content we find on the internet – which search results, videos and social media posts come up first – is increasingly determined by a few giant internet corporations. As such, they influence not only our consumer behaviour, but also how we form our political opinions. The EU’s Digital Services Act is designed to ensure greater transparency.

“Latitude” Festival Media Library
Changing System Settings

At the “Latitude” festival, Nanjira Sambuli, Renata Ávila Pinto, Esra’a Al Shafei and Mi You searched for means for digital equality. Their discussion “Re-imagining the Internet” and many more contributions are now available in the digital festival’s media library.

Data protection
Digital self-defence

Popular apps often use data in ways their users would not appreciate, but there are alternatives. Digital expert Markus Beckedahl has some tips.

New Edition of “das goethe”
Digital Colonialism

The new edition of “das goethe” with the theme “Digital Civil Society” was issued in January 2020. On The Latest at Goethe, journalist Ina Holev explains how colonisation continues in the digital space.

German Series in the USA
Binge Fever!

Television “Made in Germany” is having a golden moment with the rise of international streaming services. In this dossier, we highlight binge-worthy German serials and fill you in on where to watch them in the USA.

Shift Society
Exclusive Inclusion?

Why is the internet still full of barriers for people with disabilities? Or isn’t it? NGO founder Tiffany Brar, video influencer Daniel Jones, app developer Javier Montaner and researcher Shai Fuxman discuss the tensions between digital possibilities and their actual realisation – and what everyone in society can do.

Artificial Intelligence and Peace
“We need the political will”

When people think of the use of AI in warfare, most of them think of “killer robots”, drones. But could it also be used for peacekeeping operations? In our interview, Angela Kane, former Under-Secretary-General of the UN, explains the implementation of AI in UN-operations and its up and downsides.

AI and Law
What should a robot be allowed to do?

Artificial intelligence makes our lives easier in many ways. But who is responsible when algorithms and robots make mistakes?

Machine Learning
Who wrote this, you or DeepL?

A Goethe-Institut research project develops a self-learning computer program that does more than to detect fake submissions. “Goethe aktuell” spoke to scientist and researchers Prof. Dr. Niels Pinkwart and Leo Sylvio Rüdian who explains how the program supports teachers in their daily work tutoring German online courses.

AI music’s appearance of originality

As AI scientists try to test the technology’s creative limits, the world of music is being issued with a challenge. Goetz Richter, Associate Professor at the University of Sydney’s Conservatorium of Music, gives his view on music, artificial intelligence and consciousness.

Understanding Neural Machine Translation
How Artificial Intelligence “Works” in Literary Translation

When Google Translate was first launched in 2006, it could only translate two languages. By 2016, it was supporting over 103 languages and translating over 100 billion words a day. Now, not only does it translate, but it can also transcribe eight of the most widely spoken languages in real time. Machines are learning, and they are learning fast.

Posthumanism
At the Threshold of a New Era

What ethical, social and political questions arise when automation and artificial intelligence revolutionize the world of work? In the dossier on Posthumanism the Goethe-Institut Canada takes a critical look at these issues.

The Big Pond
A Transatlantic Listening Series

From pretzels and beer to the Berlin Wall, from motorcycles to recycling, these 50 radio features explore the relationship between Germany and the US on all levels.

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