I am very pleased to announce my edited volume: “Understanding Generative AI in a Cultural Context”

This begins a series of edited volumes with my doctoral students and a wider community of scholars I work with. We are already working on a new title, but this is the first cherished one! I have uploaded the preface and extended content to Academia.edu. The official site here, I case you would like to order for your library. We tried to collect Generative AI cases worldwide. Here is a content list:

Content List

1. Artworks in Search of their Artists in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
   Canan Arslan
2. AI-Assisted Music Mastering: Human and AI Practices in Contemporary Music Production
   Onur Aker
3. Algorithmic Choreography: Dance and Generative AI
   Amanda Furiasse
4. Human–AI Interaction in the Production of Cultural Symbols: Kilim Motifs
   Muge Oztunc, Volkan Budak
5. Non-Believable Agents: Representation, Play, and AI in Ape Out
   Fatih Sel
6. Players Retell This Story: AI, Storytelling, and Meaning-Making in Rimworld
   Ömer Can Saroğlu
7. AI-Generated Folklore: Bridging Tradition and Technology in Storytelling
   Cigdem Oztabak
8. Designing Funny Way: The Role of Humor in Human-AI Interaction
   Rahmi Uysal
9. GAI in the 2023 WGA Strike: Media Coverage and Screenwriting Industry Impacts
   Zhiqi Shao
10. The Authenticity of AI Influencers in Marketing
    Çağla Öztürk Güzel
11. Generational Differences in Perceiving AI Influencer Authenticity
    Minhaj Abdullah
12. Unpacking Generative AI Outputs: Gender and Social Representations
    Elisabetta Risi, Marco Briziarelli, Yousuf Mohammad
13. Intellectual Property in the Age of Machine Creativity
    Sertaç Oğul
14. Navigating Copyright Law in the Age of AI
    S. M. Aamir Ali, Anuttama Ghose
15. Who Owns This Artwork?: AI-Based Art Creation and Copyright Issues
    Recep Ünal, Ahmet Taylan
16. Beyond the Hype: Explainable AI and Ethical Use of Generative AI
    Amaresh Jha, Sanjeev Ratna Singh
17. AI Against ‘I’: Hiraeth, Poiesis, or Mimesis
    Mark Vicars, Janine Aldous Arantes
18. A Smart City Initiative: The Case of Istanbul Senin App
    Pinar Sungur
19. Artificial Intelligence and the Transformation in Political Communication and Campaigns
    Nurhak Atar

I have dedicated the volume to Cahit Arf

To the Memory of Cahit Arf (1910-1997)
Turkish mathematician extraordinaire, whose pioneering work in algebra and invariant theory
laid foundations that resonate with today’s artificial intelligence landscape. Just as Arf invariants
revolutionized our understanding of mathematical structures, modern AI is transforming our
cultural frameworks and creative expressions.

Here is the Acknowledgements:

A few words of gratuity are in order. I am so lucky to live through the Generative AI wave with my dear partner, Sinem. We surfed through the wave, brainstormed over the developments, trained and mentored students and users, and witnessed how this technological revolution transformed our professional and personal lives together. Her insights and support were invaluable throughout bringing this volume to life.

I am deeply grateful to all the contributors who brought their unique perspectives and rigorous scholarship to this collection. Their diverse backgrounds and approaches have created a rich tapestry of insights into the cultural dimensions of AI.

As the PhD program director of Communication Sciences at İstanbul Bilgi University, I want to express my gratitude to our graduate students, who provided a stimulating environment for discussing and debating the implications of generative AI technologies.

I must acknowledge three colleagues – Suncem Koçer, İvo Furman, and Duygu Karataş – whose academic and personal support was invaluable in conceptualizing this book. I deeply respect them and look forward to collaborating on many future projects.

I am also grateful to Sahana Udupa, whose collaborative projects helped refine my AI research and develop new directions while working on this volume.

A special thanks goes to Pelin Kuzey, former Public Affairs Director for Google Türkiye. Her trust in inviting me to direct an AI literacy project provided valuable insights into major developments in the AI industry.

Finally, I would like to express my appreciation to the reviewers who dedicated their time and expertise to ensure the quality and coherence of this volume. Their thoughtful feedback and suggestions have significantly enhanced the depth and clarity of each chapter.