Dr. Yifeng Hu, a prominent scholar in communication and technology, has released two exciting new publications that take a closer look at how generative artificial intelligence (AI) interacts with stereotypes. These works explore how AI can shape the way we communicate and provide valuable tools for anyone—whether in the classroom or in the professional world—looking to develop a critical understanding of AI and its impact on society.
In her book chapter, “Screaming Out Loud in the Communication Classroom: Asian Stereotypes and the Fallibility of Image Generating Artificial Intelligence” (published by IGI Global, 2024), Dr. Hu and co-author Dr. Anastacia Kurylo explore how AI platforms like DALL-E, MidJourney, and Pika Art can unintentionally highlight and even amplify harmful stereotypes. They demonstrate that these tools not only reflect societal biases but often magnify them, bringing unconscious stereotypes to the forefront through the images they generate. Dr. Hu emphasizes the importance of communication students recognizing and confronting these biases, stating, “AI doesn’t just reflect society’s biases—it amplifies them, often shouting them out loud through the images it creates.” The chapter calls for students to understand these dynamics and actively resist them in their own use of AI.
Dr. Hu’s second publication, “Generative AI, Communication, and Stereotypes: Learning Critical AI Literacy Through Experience, Analysis, and Reflection” (published in Communication Teacher, a flagship journal of National Communication Association, 2024), takes a more hands-on approach to AI literacy. In this article, Dr. Hu shares a fun and engaging assignment from her COM 265 Emerging Communication Technologies course. In the assignment, students use AI tools to explore and analyze stereotypes. The goal is simple: to get students thinking critically about how AI can reinforce biases and help them question and challenge those ideas. “Building critical AI literacy isn’t just about understanding the technology—it’s about equipping students to recognize the stereotypes AI may reinforce and to create more inclusive, responsible communication,” Dr. Hu explains.
Together, these publications emphasize the growing importance of addressing AI’s role in perpetuating stereotypes. These works encourage educators, students, and professionals to think more critically about AI and how we can use it more thoughtfully and responsibly as it continues to shape our media and society.
For more information, access the full publications:
Hu, Y. & Kurylo, A. D. (2024). Screaming out loud in the communication classroom: Asian stereotypes and the fallibility of image generating artificial intelligence (AI). In S. Elmoudden & J. Wrench (Eds.), The Role of Generative AI in the Communication Classroom (pp. 262-283). IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/979-8-3693-0831-8.ch012
Hu, Y. (2024). Generative AI, communication, and stereotypes: Learning critical AI literacy through experience, analysis, and reflection. Communication Teacher, Online First Publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/17404622.2024.2397065