Experts to Explore the Intersection of society and Technology in New Lecture Series
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The evolving relationship between digitalization and society will be the focus of a new lecture series, “Next Society: How digitalization shapes our coexistence,” hosted by the Passau Young Researchers Excellence Center (PYREC) in cooperation with Uni live – Campus meets City of the University of passau. The series will bring together leading experts to discuss the complex challenges and opportunities presented by artificial intelligence and its impact on modern life.
The series kicks off on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, with a presentation by Prof. Dr. Brian Valerius. His lecture, “Truths in the Age of Artificial Intelligence – a legal examination of fake news and deep fakes,” will delve into the legal ramifications of increasingly complex AI-generated content.
Did you know? – Deepfakes, realistic AI-generated videos, are a growing concern. They can spread misinformation and damage reputations. Legal experts are scrambling to understand how existing laws apply to this new technology.
The Rise of Deepfakes and the Legal Response
Generative language and image models have rapidly become ubiquitous,but their potential for misuse is a growing concern. The proliferation of fake news and deep fakes, often created and disseminated for malicious purposes, presents a significant challenge to legal frameworks. Valerius’s presentation will examine the specific (criminal) law challenges posed by these technologies and explore weather existing legislation provides adequate solutions. “The law must adapt to address the novel threats posed by AI-generated misinformation,” a senior official stated.
Reader question: – How can society best combat the spread of deepfakes and misinformation? What role should social media platforms, governments, and individuals play in addressing this issue?
A Diverse Program Exploring Digitalization’s Impact
The “Next Society” series will continue throughout the fall and winter, covering a broad range of topics related to digitalization and its societal implications. The full program includes:
- November 4, 2025: “Sustainability and digitalization – potential and limits of digitalization for our society” presented by Dr. Daniel J Live.
- November 18, 2025: “Digital dilettantes: Towards AI-based imagery” presented by Prof. Dr. Margarete Pratschke.
- December 2, 2025: “AI regulation in medicine” presented by Prof.Dr. Ulrich M. gassner.
- January 13,2026: “growing up with modern media – digitalization in education” presented by Dr. Niels Brüggen.
Each lecture will begin at 6:15 p.m. at the University of Passau and is free and open to the public. Organizers anticipate lively discussions between academics, members of the local community, and students.
Pro tip: – Attend the lectures to learn about the latest developments in AI and digitalization. The series offers a great opportunity to engage with experts and discuss the future of technology and its impact on society.
The series aims to foster a deeper understanding of the transformative power of technology and its impact on the fabric of society, encouraging critical engagement with the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Organizers look forward to welcoming a diverse audience to these crucial conversations.
