The Role of AI in Online Communities and Networks with Venessa Paech

It’s human nature to seek connection, meaning, and knowledge through community. Thanks to the smartphones in our pockets (and the near-global access to broadband), “community” now is very much a digital construct, and the way we find and participate in such gathering places is radically changing.  As online communities and human networks have evolved, algorithms have played an increasingly prominent role in the experience, from rudimentary personalization to shaping and segmenting entire communities. In the future, AI and related technologies will become central to our shared digital and real-world experience.  In this episode of the Cohere Podcast, Venessa Paech and I discuss the future role of AI in online communities - both the tremendous opportunities and potential threats AI & related technologies pose. In this episode, Venessa and I discuss: AI in the context of the digital community experience - 21:15 The specific ways AI can enhance community experience - 33:54 Potential risks of emerging technologies - 39:37 Machine culture - 43:30 Advice for organizations as they began to prepare for the changes that out AI will bring to community experiences - 46:59 Guest Bio Venessa is a co-founder of the Australian Community Managers Network, a PhD candidate studying the intersection of AI and community, and a global authority on communities and community management. She has led Community for realestate.com.au, Lonely Planet, Envato and Australia Post among others. She founded the Australian Community Manager Roundtables (ACM) in 2009, and created Swarm in 2011 with Alison Michalk. She also runs the annual Australian Community Manager Career Survey and with ACM, authored the first code of ethics for the region.  Find Venessa on the web at , her website , and on Twitter @VenessaPaech. Sources Discussed