As public spaces ā both physical and digital ā become increasingly restricted through surveillance, content control, and legal intimidation, how do we continue to speak out without putting ourselves or our communities at risk? How can we reframe resistance in an environment designed to silence us?
This discussion-based workshop draws on activist knowledge, digital design, and community organising, to explore AI-generated personas as a form of collective protection. Together, we will take a look at how AI personas might serve as ethical, accountable actors ā able to say what we cannot, and to carry politically charged messages without exposing real people to retaliation or hatred. This session searches for new ways of speaking out ā formats, languages, and channels.
Attendees will engage with the strategic and ethical dimensions of using AI personas as protective messengers for advocacy. This workshop opens the floor for critical dialogue. What are the ethics, possibilities, and limitations that need our attention when developing AI personas as a public-facing proxy in the fight for justice? Together, we will reflect on what an activist AI persona could sound like, who it could represent, and how it might navigate public discourse without causing harm.