Is AI the Biggest Gatekeeper?
Part of the (In)Justice Series & UMN Conversations at Northrop
Thursday, Feb. 19, 3:30-5 p.m.
In-person / Livestream
Free Event, Registration Requested
In a world increasingly shaped by algorithms, who gets seen and who gets erased? From racial bias in image generators like DALL·E and Midjourney to opaque algorithms on platforms like Spotify, TikTok and Instagram, AI systems are quietly curating our cultural landscape. This means the algorithm — not us — is most frequently the one deciding whose art is visible, whose stories are elevated and which creators get left behind. This event explores how artificial intelligence is shaping the future of art, culture and representation, often in ways that reinforce historical bias and gatekeeping.
Our panelists will unpack the rise of digital redlining in the arts, exposing how automated systems restrict access and opportunity for marginalized artists. We will also highlight creative resistance: how artists are hacking the algorithm, reclaiming space and building new pathways to visibility and justice. Together, we will ask: what are the consequences of bias in generative AI? Can algorithms be reimagined for equity? And what does it mean to make art in a world where machines mediate meaning?
Presented in partnership with the University of Minnesota Data Science and AI Hub.
The 2025-27 (In)Justice Series on Data & Power presented by the Institute for Advanced Study at the University of Minnesota critically examines data: how it’s collected, who controls it and what it reveals (or conceals) about power, identity and justice. Supported by the MnDRIVE Human in the Data Initiative.
Institute for Advanced Study (In)Justice Series events are professionally CART captioned and are available in person at the Best Buy Theater at Northrop or online via Zoom. Some accommodation requests may take us time to arrange, so please make requests for this event by Thursday, Feb. 5. If you are registering after this date, please still reach out to us so we can explore available options. Contact Carolina Maranon-Cobos at gust0952@umn.edu.
UMN Conversations at Northrop is a collection of lectures, panel discussions, and other conversations focused on important and timely issues presented in collaboration among numerous University of Minnesota departments and held at Northrop.
