International student- and graduate workshop
Faculty of History and Cultural Studies – Department of History, Institute for Ancient Studies (IAW), Department of Anthropology and African Studies (ifeas), Institute of Art History and Musicology (IKM)
17–18 November 2025, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz
The wave of developments in generative artificial intelligence is challenging some of the core concepts in History and Cultural Studies: since the advent of generative AI, ‘truth’ as a benchmark for knowledge production can no longer be taken for granted, and questions arise about whether ‘creativity’ as a source of human culture can now be ascribed to machines. At the same time, the technology opens-up a wide range of new methods and possibilities – from text and image recognition and classification to forms of academic writing. Application and reflection go hand in hand, sharpening our understanding of generative AI. The combination of active use, experimentation and critique forms the starting point for this event organised by the Faculty of History and Cultural Studies at Johannes Gutenberg University.
The international workshop seeks to foster exchange across the fields and perspectives mentioned above. The discussions will focus both on the cultural, societal and technical frameworks of knowledge production as well as questions of authenticity and creativity in machine-generated outcomes.
(Dr. Maxime Brami)
In the humanities, classification algorithms – including clustering and neural networks – enable the automatic categorisation of image and text data, for example for the analysis of works of art, historical documents or literary styles. They thus facilitate the discovery of patterns, similarities and structural connections in large digital collections. How can old data and traditional categories be used for new research?
(Dr. Jan Beek, Prof. Dr. Thomas Blank, Prof. Dr. Jörg Rogge)
As distinctions between human and machine-generated content become increasingly blurred, authenticity and deception turn into constant challenges. How should research respond when the boundaries are no longer clear?
(Prof. Dr. Stefanie Acquavella-Rauch, Dr. Steffen Haug)
The arts experiment with new techniques considering their creative potential. They often make deliberate use of the “errors” and limitations of machines. What do the results of these experiments imply for our perspective on generative AI?
Monday, 17 November 2025
Alte Mensa (linke Aula / left auditorium)
| 10:00 | Welcome Prof. Dr. Heide Frielinghaus (Dean Faculty 07) Prof. Dr. Stephan Jolie (JGU Vice-President for Teaching and Learning) |
| 10:15 | Introduction Prof. Dr. Stefanie Acquavella-Rauch and Dr. Steffen Haug on behalf of the organisers |
| 10:50 | Short break |
| 11:00 | Keynote Prof. Dr. Stephen J. Cave (Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence, University of Cambridge): Origin Myths of the Artificial and the Intelligent Moderation: Dr. Steffen Haug |
| 12:00 | Working groups and lunch Break |
| 14:00 | Lightning Talks |
| 14:00 | Classification: Dr. Barbara McGillivray (King’s College London, online): Analysing word meaning in Historical Texts with Computational Methods Moderation: Dr. Maxime Brami |
| 14:50 | Authentification: Dr. Michael Townsen Hicks (University of Glasgow): Intentional Metaphors and Intentional Reality: Using Teleological Language to Discuss AI Moderation: Dr. Jan Beek |
| 15:40 | Tea break |
| 15:50 | Authentification: Hadiyah Touqeer B.A. (University of Delhi): Forging Trust in an Unstable World: Authenticity, Deceit, and the Digital Afterlife of Oral Memory Moderation: Prof. Dr. Thomas Blank |
| 16:40 | Creative Practices: Prof. Dr. Miriam Akkermann (Universität der Künste, Berlin, online): Creative computing – creative computer? Moderation: Prof. Dr. Stefanie Acquavella-Rauch |
| 17:30 | Break, change to: Alte Mensa (Atrium Maximum) |
| 18:00 | Fishbowl-Discussion AI in the Academic World – Opportunities, Risks & Ethical Concerns (co-organised with the Junge Akademie of the Akademie der Wissenschaften und der Literatur Mainz) with: Prof. Dr. Acquavella-Rauch, Frauke Pirk, Prof. Thorsten Schrade, Michel Seiwert and others Moderation: Carina Schroeder (freelance Journalist, host of the podcast „KI Verstehen“) |
| 19:30 | Reception |
Tuesday, 18 November 2025
Alte Mensa (Auditorium Maximum)
| 9:00 | Case Studies AI, the Arts and Creative Practice |
| 9:15 | Dr. Be Andr (London): Code and the Sensuous Artist talk moderated by Prof. Dr. Ursula Ströbele (Hochschule für bildende Künste, Braunschweig) |
| 10:15 | Coffee Break |
| 10:30 | Prof. Dr. Immanuel Ott and Henrik Schuld (Hochschule für Musik, Mainz): AI in Music Schools and as a tool for the reconstruction of lost scores Moderation: Prof. Dr. Stefanie Acquavella-Rauch |
| 11:30 | Coffee Break |
| 11:45 | Prof. Florian Jenett, David Rittershaus and Anton Koch (Motionbank) (Hochschule Mainz): AI in Dance-Studies. Annotated Pre-Notations Moderation: Prof. Dr. Stefanie Acquavella-Rauch |
| 12:45 | Lunch |
| 14:00 | Working groups and round-up |
Organised by Prof. Dr. Stefanie Acquavella-Rauch (IKM), Dr. Jan Beek (ifeas), Prof. Dr. Thomas Blank (HS), Dr. Maxime Brami (IAW), Dr. Steffen Haug (FB), Prof. Dr. Jörg Rogge (HS) and Sabine Wilke (FB).
Supported by the Gutenberg Lehrkolleg (GLK) in the „Hallo, KI!“ series under the aegis of the Vice-President for Teaching and Learning.
The Fishbowl-discussion is co-organised with the „Junge Akadamie“ of the Akademie der Wissenschaften und Literatur, Mainz, more here.
Contact Dr. Steffen Haug: steffen.haug@uni-mainz.de.
The Call for Participation can be downloaded here (PDF) (deadline was 6 October 2025).
