DIG1t0 – Democracy, Language and the Politics of Algorithms Steering Vulnerable Citizens in Society (2022-2025)
The DIG1t0 project examines the automation of public administration and digital services and its impact on the conditions for democracy, especially from the perspective of vulnerable citizens. We are seeking answers to the questions what kind of epistemic (in)justice automated systems and digital services provide to vulnerable citizens and how such politics of algorithms transforms the conditions of democracy in society. In particular, we will focus on the complex role of language as part of using and designing public digital services.
The multidisciplinary project creatively combines empirical linguistic studies and social science research with AI ethics, philosophical epistemology and political theory. Utilising diverse qualitative data, the project relies on multimodal interaction analysis, document analysis and argumentation analysis in its methodology. The results are disseminated to the public through a live science event, bringing researchers and co-researchers on stage. The project is funded by the Kone Foundation 2022-2025.
More info: https://projects.tuni.fi/digito-en/
ROSE – Robots and the Future of Welfare Services (2015-2021)
The ROSE project investigated how advances in service robotics enable product and service innovation and the renewal of welfare services, especially for the needs of an aging population. The project studied the evolution of services on the level of the individual, institutions and the society, and considers the needs of the users, ethical standpoints, maturity of technology as well as the service system as a whole. The research was conducted as several substudies, including “Ethics and philosophy” in which the members of the TechPhilo group examined the ethical and social challenges associated with the use of robotics in interactions between the elderly and their caregivers.
More info: https://projects.tuni.fi/rose/in-english/