Shaping The AI-Empowered Future of Knowledge, Scholarship, and Creativity

Program

Monday, September 1, 2025

Dean's Opening Remarks

9:00 - 9:20 a.m.

Marwan M. Kraidy (Dean and CEO, Northwestern University in Qatar)

Biography

Marwan M. Kraidy is dean and CEO of Northwestern in Qatar, where he oversees all academic, administrative, and operational units. Kraidy founded the Institute for Advanced Study in the Global South, which hosts multidisciplinary teams of faculty and students dedicated to evidence-based storytelling on the diverse histories, cultures, societies, and media of the Global South. The Institute hosts fellows, mentor emerging scholars, and produce multi-lingual and multi-modal outputs. The Artificial Intelligence Initiative is Kraidy’s second strategic flagship initiative focused on meeting the global challenges of artificial intelligence and making decisive contributions to research, teaching, and professional development in that area.

Positioning Remarks

[Theme #1 Shaping The AI-Empowered Future]

Humane AI Starts Here: Humane AI Ecosystem and Collaborative Intelligence for a Technology-Empowered Future

9:20 - 9:50 a.m.

S. Venus Jin
Associate Dean for Education, AIM-Lab Director

Biography

At Northwestern University in Qatar, Jin has served as Professor of Digital Media Studies since 2019 and as director of the Communication Program from 2022 until 2023. Since 2024, she has served as associate dean for education and founding director of the Artificial Intelligence and Media Lab (AIM-Lab). She has led NU-Q’s AI Initiative and launched NU-Q’s new Artificial Intelligence and Media minor. Jin is committed to interdisciplinary research on transformative artificial intelligence (AI), AI-driven digital marketing, personal branding, and consumer behavior. She is a Fellow of the International Communication Association.

[Theme #1 Shaping The AI-Empowered Future]

AI-Augmented Scholarly System

9:50 - 10:20 a.m.

Noshir Contractor 
McCormick School of Engineering, Kellogg School of Management, School of Communication, Northwestern University

Biography

Noshir Contractor is the Jane S. & William J. White Professor of Behavioral Sciences at Northwestern University, investigating how networks form and perform. He is a Fellow of the Academy of Management, the International Communication Association, the Network Science Society, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the Association for Computing Machinery.

Abstract

This talk examines how AI is transforming scientific research through two paradigm shifts: changes in research objects (algorithmically infused societies) and research conduct. Exploring AI's evolution from substitution to enlargement and reconfiguration, Contractor demonstrates how collaborative intelligence, combining AI, domain experts, and technical specialists, will fundamentally reshape scholarly work.

[Theme #1 Shaping The AI-Empowered Future]

AI-Powered Future of Research

10:20 - 10:50 a.m.

V.S. Subrahmanian 
McCormick School of Engineering, Northwestern Network for Collaborative Intelligence [NNCI] Co-Director, Northwestern University

Biography

V.S. Subrahmanian is the Walter P. Murphy Professor of Computer Science, Head of the Northwestern Security & AI Lab (NSAIL), and Co-Director of Northwestern Network for Collaborative Intelligence (NNCI). A world leader in AI, he has pioneered the design of AI for enhancing global security. He has spoken previously at prestigious forums such as Capitol Hill, the UN, and the Mumbai Stock Exchange. His work has been featured in numerous top scientific journals and major news outlets.

Abstract

AI is dominating the landscape of science. Whether in the fields of computing or drug discovery or materials synthesis, AI models are revolutionizing how research is done. This talk will highlight how AI is revolutionizing the fields of protein synthesis, design of specialized materials, and global security. This talk will also address some of the risks posed by AI and how AI itself can be used to mitigate such risks.

[Theme#2: AI For a Better World?: (AI and (Dis)Information)]

From AI Sloperations to Slopaganda: How is AI Changing Disinformation?

10:50 - 11:20 a.m.

Marc Owen Jones  
NU-Q Communication Program

Biography

Marc Owen Jones is an Associate Professor of Media Analytics at Northwestern University in Qatar, where he specializes in investigating disinformation campaigns and techniques of digital authoritarianism in the Middle East. He is the author of several books, including Digital Authoritarianism in the Middle East (2022; Hurst/Oxford University Press) and Political Repression in Bahrain (2020: Cambridge University Press).

Abstract

AI is revolutionizing disinformation through sophisticated deepfakes, automated content generation, and personalized targeting at unprecedented scale. "AI slop"—low-quality generated content—enables mass "sloperations" and "slopaganda" campaigns that flood information spaces with misleading material. This analysis examines how AI and AI slop are being deployed in real-world disinformation campaigns today.

Networking & Lunch
11:20 a.m. - 12:50 p.m.

[Theme#3: AI and Creativity (Transformative Impact of AI on Media Entrepreneurship)]

Transformative Impact of AI on the Future of K-Content and Entertainment Industry

1:00 - 1:30 p.m.

Young Cha  
CEO, ODK Media

Biography

Young Joon Cha is the Co-Founder and CEO of ODK Media, Inc., a leading global digital media company specializing in the distribution of Asian content across OTT and FAST platforms. With over two decades of industry experience, he has built over 320 strategic partnerships in 36 countries, advancing multicultural entertainment through innovation and global collaboration.

Abstract

How is AI impacting the media and entertainment world today? AI is transforming the production, distribution, and monetization of K-content. In this session, Cha’s talk will explore how generative AI, AI-powered localization and publishing are redefining the globalization of K-content, and will share field experience to help creators, IP holders, and platforms thrive in the rapidly evolving, AI driven media and entertainment industry.

[Theme#3: AI and Creativity (Entrepreneurs’ Use of GenAI)]

Entrepreneurs’ Application of AI in Producing Viral Social Media Content: A Case Study on Instagram Reels and ChatGPT

1:30 - 1:50 p.m.

Faculty Mentor: S. Venus Jin (Associate Dean for Education; AIM-Lab AURORA Mentor)
Speaker: Shugyla Karshygakyzy (AIM-Lab AURORA Grantee)

Biography

Shugyla Karshygakyzy is a junior at Northwestern University in Qatar and an AURORA grantee. Her work explores the intersection of social media, AI, and automation, with a focus on how generative tools like ChatGPT are reshaping storytelling in the digital age. She’s especially interested in creative strategy and platform innovation.

Abstract

This talk explores how entrepreneurs are using generative AI, especially ChatGPT to create more engaging Instagram Reels. Using a mixed-method case study, it compares performance before and after AI adoption. The findings show that when used intentionally, AI boosts efficiency and reach without losing authenticity, linking innovation theory to social media storytelling.

Recess
1:50 - 2:00 p.m.

[Theme#3: AI and Creativity (AI-Powered Docudrama Production)]

Beyond the Trope: Cinematic Creativity in AI-Powered Docudrama Production

2:00 - 2:30 p.m.

Spencer Striker 
NU-Q Communication Program; AIM-Lab Faculty Affiliate

Biography

Spencer Striker, PhD, is Professor of Digital Media Design at Northwestern University Qatar and a leading innovator in digital learning design. He creates award-winning immersive educational experiences, including Empires & Interconnections, Plague of Athens VR, and Chaos Corp. Troll Farm Simulator, by blending narrative design with game-based learning and AI-powered animation.

Abstract

This presentation showcases the creative workflow for “Legacy of Light,” an AI-animated docudrama on the Islamic Golden Age, funded by the Doha Film Institute. It confronts generative AI’s tendency toward repetitive, trope-heavy visuals by using “cinematic deconstruction”; surreal, metaphorical concepts; and a signature mood board called Poetic Noir Realism to inspire original, cinematic imagery for compelling narrative animation.

[Theme#3: AI and Creativity (AI-Powered Education Technology)]

Human-Centered AI Design and Responsible AI for Younger Generations

2:30 - 3:00 p.m.

Shahzad Ahmed 
Co-Founder, Hoja AI

Biography

Shahzad Ahmed designs learning experiences where AI meets empathy. As Co-Founder of Hoja AI, he builds tools that inspire and protect younger learners, especially in the Global South. A member of EDHEC University’s Alumni Board, he champions responsible innovation that balances technology’s promise with the needs and voices of real communities.

Abstract

What happens when AI meets the classroom in places where resources are scarce, but creativity is abundant? Shahzad Ahmed shares stories from the frontlines of designing AI learning experiences for young people especially in the Global South, showing how ethics, empathy, and design thinking can turn technology into a tool for opportunity.

[Theme#3: AI and Creativity (AI.Vant-Garde)]

AI.Vant-Garde: Reimagining Creativity at the Intersection of Art and AI

3:00 - 3:30 p.m.

Jesse Payne 
VCU-Q

Biography

Jesse Payne is an Associate Professor at VCUarts Qatar, where he leads the Drawing Curriculum and explores the intersection of art, technology, and education. His current work integrates generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, MidJourney, and Runway ML, fostering hybrid creative processes and preparing artists for an AI-driven future.

Abstract

This talk introduces AI.Vant-Garde, a vision for integrating AI into art and design education. Through hybrid workflows that combine traditional methods with generative tools like MidJourney and Runway ML, Jesse Payne demonstrates how AI amplifies human creativity, transforming artistic practice, pedagogy, and the future of cultural production in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

[Theme#3: AI and Creativity (Transformative Impact of GenAI on Writing)]

Typewriters Ate My Skull Stew: Practical Gen-AI Transformations for the Writing Classroom

3:30 - 4:00 p.m.

Sam Meekings
NU-Q Liberal Arts Program; AIM-Lab Faculty Affiliate

Biography

Sam Meekings is an Associate Professor of Creative Writing. His novel Under Fishbone Clouds was called “a poetic evocation of the country and its people” by the New York Times, and his new book Wonder & Loss: A Practical Memoir for Writing about Grief will be published in October.

Abstract

This presentation provides an adaptive framework for responding to the changes generative AI is enacting upon students and their writing. It explores various practical and pedagogical approaches to transforming how we discuss, model and teach writing, focusing on reflective and analytical strategies for using generative AI in the classroom.

Interactive Poster: "Localizing Microsoft Cloud: – AI-Driven Strategic Communication Campaign

4:00 - 4:30 p.m.

Faculty Mentor: Mohammed Ibahrine (Journalism and Strategic Communication Program)

Biography

Mohammed Ibahrine is a Professor of Strategic Communication in the Journalism and Strategic Communication Program at Northwestern University in Qatar. Ibahrine joins Northwestern Qatar from the American University of Sharjah (AUS), where he served as professor in the College of Arts and Sciences and coordinator of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program in the School of Business and Administration (SBA). Ibahrine is a social scientist committed to interdisciplinary research on technology, business, and human interaction in cultural, political, social, and economic contexts. He won several teaching, research, and creative awards and has published in leading peer-reviewed journals, including Journalism Practice, Online Information Review, Asian Studies, and Religions.

Speakers: Maureen Wu, Lama Turki Al Khater, Maryam Rubaih Al Kubaisi 

Biography

Maureen Wu is a Communication student at Northwestern University in Qatar, with a minor in Media and Politics. Her work explores the use of AI in developing original visual styles and enhancing creative concepts. She is particularly interested in leveraging AI to improve efficiency in campaign and content creation amid today’s saturated media landscape. Lama Al-Khater is a Communication student at Northwestern University in Qatar, with minors in Strategic Communication and Film & Design. Her work explores how AI and storytelling shape branding and cultural narratives. She’s particularly interested in how visual media and AI intersect to express themes of identity and innovation. Maryam Al-Kubaisi is a Communication student at Northwestern University in Qatar, minoring in Strategic Communication and Film & Design. Her work explores the intersection of technology, branding, and cultural relevance. Through projects like the Microsoft Cloud Campaign, she highlights how local identity can shape AI narratives and digital transformation.

Abstract

This student-led project focuses on an AI-driven campaign promoting Microsoft Cloud in Qatar. It demonstrates how branding strategies can effectively localize global technologies by emphasizing cultural values, data sovereignty, and digital transformation. The project explores how strategic communication can bridge innovation and identity in public-facing campaigns targeting enterprises, small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), and government entities.

Networking & Afternoon Tea
4:30 - 5:00 p.m.

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Tuesday, September 2, 2025

[Theme#4: AI and Journalism (Transformative Impact of Liquid Content)]

AI-Powered Journalistic Storytelling

9:00 - 9:30 a.m.

Jeremy Gilbert 
Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications, Northwestern University

Biography

Medill’s Knight Professor in Digital Media Strategy, Jeremy Gilbert, oversees the Knight Lab. He focuses on experimental media technologies, including Artificial Intelligence. Gilbert founded the Data-Driven Reporting Project and the NextGenNews project. Previously, he was The Washington Post’s Director of Strategic Initiatives and as Deputy Editor, Digital, at National Geographic.

Abstract

Journalism’s audiences deserve the information they want and need in the form they prefer. Journalism must evolve and generative AI enables the kind of hyper-personalization needed to do it. Liquid Content enables a shift from one-to-many to one-to-one for many models, customizing format, length, and background.

[Theme#4: AI and Journalism (Transformative Impact of Liquid Content)]

AI Unleashed for Game-Changing Strategic Messaging

9:30 - 10:00 a.m.

Ilhem Allagui 
Journalism and Strategic Communication Program Director

Biography

Ilhem Allagui is a Professor of Strategic Communication and the director of the Journalism and Strategic Communication program at Northwestern University in Qatar. Dr. Allagui authored "Advertising in MENA Goes Digital" (Routledge, 2019). She has published on topics such as corporate strategic communication, big data, the creative economy, digital media, and socio-political changes in the Arab region.

Abstract

This presentation examines how AI impacts storytelling in journalism and strategic communication. In today’s marketing landscape, content creation accelerates, and AI tools improve production, curation, and distribution within newsrooms and marketing teams. Evidence and insights from these fields will be discussed.

[Theme#4: AI and Journalism (Impact of AI on Sports Journalism)]

Impact of AI Bylines on Sports NewsAudience Perceptions of Credibility and Comprehensibility of Sports News

10:00 - 10:30 a.m.

Claudia Kozman 
NU-Q Journalism and Strategic Communication Program; AIM-Lab Faculty Affiliate

Biography

Claudia Kozman conducts comparative research on conflict, politics, and sports from a media systems approach. Her interest in AI focuses on sports and the credibility of news to better understand how audiences perceive sports articles.

Abstract

This study aims to test the effects of news bylines on the perceived credibility and comprehensibility of sports news. The experiment compares individuals’ assessment of message credibility and comprehensibility factual match reports versus opinion pieces written by AI and human authors.

Recess
10:30 - 10:40 a.m.

[Theme#2: AI For a Better World (Trustworthy AI)]

Designing AI We Can Trust

10:40 - 11:10 a.m.

Wajdi Zaghouani 
NU-Q Communication Program; AIM-Lab Faculty Affiliate

Biography

Wajdi Zaghouani is an Associate Professor of AI and Media Analytics at Northwestern University in Qatar. His research focuses on Arabic NLP, AI for social good, and online harms such as fake news and hate speech. He has published over 100 papers on AI, language technologies, and data annotation for NLP.

Abstract

This talk presents a comprehensive framework for designing trustworthy AI systems from inception rather than retrofitting trust afterward. Drawing from research spanning Arabic NLP, hate speech detection, and social media analytics, we explore practical methodologies for embedding ethics, safety, and authenticity into AI development workflows, emphasizing community engagement and cultural sensitivity throughout the design process.

[Theme#2: AI For a Better World (AI for Mental Health Strategy)]

AI-Driven Forecasting and Explainability for Mental Health Trends and Intervention Planning

11:10 - 11:40 a.m.

Zaid Jamal Saeed Almahmoud  
AIM-Lab Postdoctoral Scholar

Biography

Zaid Almahmoud is a postdoctoral scholar in the Artificial Intelligence and Media Lab at Northwestern University in Qatar. He develops AI systems to forecast mental health trends and evaluate treatment effectiveness using a structured dataset of evidence-based therapies. His work integrates multi-source signals and agent-based reasoning to guide future healthcare investments.

Abstract

This talk proposes a novel AI framework that forecasts mental health trends by fusing signals from Google, academic research, and social media. Agents analyze disorder trajectories, treatment effectiveness, and research gaps using structured evidence. Through multi-agent dialogue, the system generates explainable, data-driven investment recommendations, bridging predictive analytics with collaborative AI reasoning for mental health strategy.

[Theme#2: AI For a Better World (AI-Powered TreatMind)]

TreatMind: A Structured Dataset for AI Evaluation and Analysis of Mental Health Treatments

11:40 a.m. - 12:10 p.m.

Faculty Mentor: Zaid Almahmoud (AIM-Lab Postdoctoral Scholar)
Speakers: Farhan Saleh Rafid, Hannah Ahmad SA Al Mannai

Biography

Farhan Saleh Rafid is a digital journalist with a strong research interest. At Northwestern Qatar's Institute for Advanced Studies in the Global South, he completed a year-long fellowship studying how gender norms affect mobile financial services' usage in Bangladesh. Farhan now contributes to TreatMind, an AI-powered project analyzing psychiatric treatments through large-scale data extraction, automated coding, and evidence-based modeling. Hannah Al Mannai is a print journalist with strong interests in human rights advocacy. At Northwestern University Qatar, she completed a summer-long research project on a variety of whistleblowers who contributed to shining light on negligent powers. Hannah now works on TreatMind, empowering AI to analyze mental health treatments through data extraction.

Abstract

The team created TreatMind, the first structured dataset of evidence-based treatments for 30 mental health disorders, with efficacy information drawn from meta-analyses. The dataset captures key treatment features, including purpose, FDA approval status, effect sizes, side effects, and clinical warnings. It is designed to support AI-driven tools in guiding policymakers on investment priorities. Applications include evaluating and comparing treatments, identifying research gaps, and ranking intervention effectiveness to inform funding decisions and future research strategies.

Lunch
12:00 - 12:50 p.m.

[Theme#5: AI Ethics (Responsible and Inclusive AI)]

Inclusive AI and GEN(der) AI Safety

1:00 - 1:30 p.m.

K.V. (Kiran) Bhatia

Biography

Kiran Vinod Bhatia is a digital anthropologist and Responsible AI lead at Utrecht University’s Inclusive AI Lab. With over a decade of fieldwork across the Global South, her research explores inclusive tech design, AI safety, and digital well-being, centering the experiences of women and marginalized communities.

Abstract

What does safety mean in an AI system where data is persistent, consent is irrevocable, and nuance is erased? This talk draws on feminist ethnography and the Data CARE framework to reimagine GenAI through intersectional, gender-sensitive design. Centering women’s testimonies from the Global South, I’ll explore what collective consent, narrative control, and feminist refusal look like in practice—beyond protectionist tropes. Women don’t want to be erased or reduced to victims; they want safe, playful, and aspirational ways to access and shape GenAI technologies. This is a call to build systems that listen, adapt, and make space for joy.

[Theme#5: AI Ethics (Irresponsible AI: Algorithmic Harms)]

Triple Jeopardy: Gendered Algorithms and the Invisibility of Non-Western Women

1:30 - 1:50 p.m.

Faculty Mentor: Rajiv Mishra

Biography

Rajiv K. Mishra is an assistant professor in residence with a joint appointment with the communication and liberal arts programs. He received his doctorate in science, technology, and society studies (STS) from the Centre for Studies in Science Policy (CSSP), School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi.

Speakers: Fatima Al Naemi, Tayama Rai

Biography

Tayama Rai and Fatima Al Naemi are undergraduate student researchers at Northwestern University in Qatar. Their interdisciplinary research examines how technology, gender, and race intersect, with a particular focus on digital injustice and geopolitical marginality. They aim to amplify non-Western voices and advocate for inclusive, equitable algorithmic design.

Abstract

This presentation introduces the concept of “triple jeopardy” to describe how non-Western women face compounded algorithmic harms shaped by gender, race, and global power asymmetries. Drawing on qualitative interviews, the research reveals how facial recognition, hiring tools, and content moderation systems reinforce digital exclusion, demanding more inclusive, decolonial algorithmic frameworks.

Recess
1:50 - 2:00 p.m.

[Theme#5: AI Ethics (AI, Ethics, and Accountability)]

Ethical AI

2:00 - 2:30 p.m.

David Leslie

Biography

David Leslie is Director of Ethics and Responsible Innovation Research at The Alan Turing Institute and Professor of Ethics, Technology and Society at Queen Mary University of London. He is the author of the UK Government’s official guidance on the responsible design and implementation of AI systems in the public sector and principal co-author of the UK national AI explainability guidance co-published by the Information Commissioner’s Office and the Turing. David serves as Specialist Advisor to the Council of Europe’s Committee on Artificial Intelligence and on UNESCO’s High-Level Expert Group steering the implementation of its Recommendation on AI Ethics.

Abstract

This talk applies a critical ethical lens to AGI and generative AI, arguing that hype obscures real societal challenges like bias, misinformation, and accountability. It advocates deflationary scrutiny from AI ethics, emphasizing human agency and democratic oversight to ensure technology truly serves collective societal interests.

[Theme#5: AI Ethics (AI Bias and AI Divide)]

AI Bias and Digital Inequalities”: Algorithmic Erasure and Journalistic Countermeasures in the Sub-Saharan Africa

2:30 - 3:00 p.m.

Gregory Gondwe

Biography

Dr. Greg Gondwe is Assistant Professor at Cal State San Bernardino and Faculty Associate at Harvard’s Berkman Klein Center. His research explores emerging technologies in African journalism, algorithmic bias, and media power dynamics. He uses qualitative and computational methods and publishes widely on AI, misinformation, and media equity in sub-Saharan Africa.

Abstract

While much AI bias discourse centers on misrepresentation, this study examines the concept of ontological exclusion, where journalism in sub-Saharan Africa is erased by algorithms privileging Western formats. Through ethnographic and technical inquiry, we uncover systemic invisibility and spotlight radical acts of resistance that reengineer legibility from below.

Recess
3:00 - 3:10 p.m.

[Theme#5: AI Ethics (Algorithmic Opacity and Bias)]

Detecting the Undetectable: AI Challenges in Arabic Fake News Detection

3:10 - 3:30 p.m.

Faculty Mentor: Mohammed Ibahrine

Speaker: Sabeeka Al-Kuwari

Biography

Sabeeka Al-Kuwari is a Communication student at Northwestern University in Qatar. Her research focuses on artificial intelligence, content moderation, and digital governance in Arabic-language contexts. She investigates how algorithmic systems influence digital expression, representation, and platform accountability, particularly within sociolinguistically complex and politically sensitive Arab digital environments.

Abstract

This study investigates AI-based fake news detection in Arabic digital spaces, revealing systemic moderation failures due to dialectal misrecognition, algorithmic bias, and opacity. Using interviews and content analysis, it argues that current models marginalize Arabic discourse, calling for dialect-aware datasets, transparent governance, and culturally grounded approaches to content moderation.

[Theme#3: AI and Creativity (The Impact of AI-Assisted Film Projects)]

AI Behind the Scenes: The Impact of AI-Assisted Film Projects

3:30 - 3:50 p.m.

Faculty Mentor: Mohammed Ibahrine

Speaker: Houra Hussain Haji

Biography

Houra Haji is an aspiring Qatari student filmmaker pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Communication at Northwestern University in Qatar, with minors in Film and Design, and Strategic Communication. She has produced a Studio 20Q film Curly Girl Method (2025), and is currently writing and directing a new Studio 20Q project titled Ahlam Al-Asr. Her research interests focus on the intersection of AI and cinema, exploring how AI is reshaping the filmmaking process and what the future may hold for machine-generated storytelling.

Abstract

This presentation explores the evolving impact of AI on creative roles in filmmaking, including writing, directing, editing, and storyboarding. Through interviews with one AI expert, student filmmakers, and case studies of AI-assisted film projects, it investigates whether AI enhances or replaces human creativity, and how this technological shift challenges conventional notions of authorship and artistic control.

Recess
3:50 - 4:00 p.m.

[Theme#6: AI and the Global South]

Data Colonialism and Labor Extraction in the Global South

4:00 - 4:20 p.m.

Faculty Mentor: Rajiv Mishra

Speaker: Ayushi Jha

Biography

Ayushi Jha is a third-year Journalism and Strategic Communications student at Northwestern University in Qatar. Known for her drive, she leads digital media and marketing projects on campus across a variety of clubs. Ayushi’s work centers on brand strategy, analytics, and content creation, with a keen curiosity for technology’s evolving role in media.

Abstract

This paper examines how global digital platforms exploit labor and data from users in the Global South, revealing patterns of invisible labor, algorithmic opacity, monetization asymmetries, and normalized precarity. It argues that platform capitalism perpetuates data colonialism, extracting value without fair compensation or transparency, reinforcing global inequalities.

[Theme#6: AI and the Global South]

Explainable AI from the Global South

4:20 - 4:50 p.m.

Jake Okechukwu Effoduh

Biography

Jake Okechukwu Effoduh is an Assistant Professor at the Lincoln Alexander School of Law. With expertise in International Law and Artificial Intelligence, Jake has led and informed several AI policies in many countries. His work explores decolonial approaches to technology, and he is the editor-in-chief of the Transnational Technology Law Review. He has published widely on AI, law, and digital justice.

Abstract

This talk explores the concept of "explainable AI" from the Global South, emphasizing how cultural contexts and digital inequalities epistemic marginalization shape trust in AI. Drawing from several African case studies, it proposes human-centered, culturally adaptive approaches to AI legibility, redefining explainability in AI as a relational, not merely technical, solution to algorithmic opacity and exclusion.

Closing Remarks

4:50 - 5:00 p.m.

Marwan Kraidy (Dean and CEO)

Networking & Closing Reception
5:00 - 6:00 p.m.

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Special Exhibits

(Forum – Both Days)

AI and (In)Justice: Unveiling the Tormentors with AI

Abstract

This installation uses AI to recreate the unseen faces of torturers erased from victim-centred media coverage. Drawing on Pakistan's sensationalist reporting of torture and injustice as a case study, it exposes how news fixates on suffering while leaving tormentors unnamed and unaccountable.

Biography

Shakeeb Asrar is an assistant professor in residence in the Journalism and Strategic Communication Program. He has worked as a journalist and documentary filmmaker for several years, primarily at Al Jazeera English, focusing on interactive and multimedia stories for AJ’s digital platforms.

Interactive Poster: Localizing Microsoft Cloud

Presenters: Mohammed Ibahrine, Maureen Wu, Lama Turki Al Khater, Maryam Rubaih Al Kubaisi

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