David Nieborg—Global Perspectives on Platforms and Cultural Production & AI

Global Perspectives on Platforms and Cultural Production & AI

This talk discusses the history of the broader Platforms and Cultural Production research project, which began a decade ago. The project examines the impact of globally operating platform conglomerates such as Meta, ByteDance, and Google on cultural producers, including game studios, news organizations, and social media entertainers. First, I will introduce the broader framework underpinning this project, which focuses on institutional changes in markets, infrastructures, and governance, alongside shifts in creative practices, labour, and creativity. Second, the project adopted a “global perspective” to challenge central concepts in the field of platform studies, many of which reflect the imprint of Western institutions, cultural practices, and ideals. Our aim has been to question universalist assumptions, provincialize the US, and multiply our frames of reference in order to examine the global power relations that structure local platform economies. Looking ahead, the project’s future will center on the role of generative AI -- typically provided by platform companies -- and its impact on creative labour. Exploratory research will focus on specific industry sectors and cities, including anime in Tokyo, film in Lagos, and television in Sao Paolo.

Speaker
Professor David B. Nieborg is a Professor of Media Studies at the University of Toronto. He held fellowships with MIT, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the University of Amsterdam, and the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton. He published widely on the game industry and the political economy of platforms.