Beyond Algorithms: Social Representations and the Public Understanding of AI

Beyond Algorithms: Social Representations and the Public Understanding of AI explores how artificial intelligence is understood, debated, and socially constructed across different social, cultural, and institutional contexts. Drawing on Social Representations Theory and complementary perspectives, the volume examines the meanings, hopes, fears, and controversies associated with AI in domains such as education, health, work, ethics, communication, and public policy. By bringing together contributions from an international group of scholars, the book highlights how public understandings of AI shape social practices which, in turn, are shaped by broader social, political, and cultural transformations.

About the Author

Lilian Negura is a Professor at the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Ottawa, Canada. His research focuses on Social Representations Theory, the social construction of public problems, and the role of knowledge and power in shaping social realities. He has published extensively on topics such as artificial intelligence, addiction, health, and social inequalities. His work combines theoretical development with empirical research aimed at understanding contemporary social transformations.