Can AI Build “Mental Immunity”? Inoculating Against Harmful Influence with AI Chatbots

08.06.2025 - 07.06.2027
Forschungsförderungsprojekt

The rapid advancement of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and immersive synthetic realities (SR) is reshaping the domain of information warfare. Extremist groups and authoritarian regimes exploit these technologies to manipulate public discourse and erode trust in democratic institutions through propaganda, disinformation, and hate speech. Existing countermeasures, such as algorithmic moderation and content takedowns, often fall short due to their reactive nature, potential biases, and unintended consequences, particularly in SR environments. This project proposes an innovative solution: inoculating individuals against harmful influence campaigns using AI-powered chatbots based on psychological inoculation theory. These chatbots act as “mental vaccines,” engaging users in ethically guided, persuasive dialogues to build cognitive resilience against manipulative narratives.

Personen

Projektleiter_in

Institut

Grant funds

  • FWF - Österr. Wissenschaftsfonds (National) 1000 Ideas Programme Austrian Science Fund (FWF)

Forschungsschwerpunkte

  • Visual Computing and Human-Centered Technology: 100%

Schlagwörter

DeutschEnglisch
KIAI
chatbotschatbots
generative KIgenerative AI
soziale Innovationsocial innovation
persuasive technologypersuasive technology

Publikationen