Roland Meyer

Roland Meyer, a professor of digital cultures and arts, explores the curious allure of AI-generated imagery, particularly among right-wing groups. He discusses how these images shape cultural and political narratives, often blending aspirational aesthetics with reality. Meyer critiques the biases in AI models and connects the homogenization of beauty standards to historical eugenics. The conversation touches on race representation in AI, societal pressures on femininity, and even humorously looks at an AI-generated Pope Francis image, revealing complex cultural clashes.

In this conversation, Roland Meyer, a Bridge Professor in Zurich specializing in digital visual cultures, and Gillian Rose, a Human Geography Professor at Oxford, delve into the implications of AI imagery. They discuss the challenges of distinguishing real from AI-generated images and critique the colonial aspects of generative AI. The duo also highlights how sociopolitical factors shape our understanding of digital visual culture, revealing the biases embedded in these technologies and the need for deeper analysis in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.