The digital thesis day took place on 17.07.25.

Sarah Herrmann and Daniel Geiser from the Digital Democracy project will show you how to set up your own bot, improve it with targeted prompts and through trial and error in the workshop "Your own chatbot made easy: basics & tips". You will learn how to incorporate your own knowledge, what a system prompt is and how to use it to control your chatbot. We will also talk about the advantages and disadvantages of using chatbots and take a look at the KIT guidelines for using such tools. Ideal for anyone who wants to get started without any prior knowledge!

Alexa M. Kunz is addressing this question together with other experts from science and business as part of the Future Skills 2030 task force. The committee was convened by the Donors' Association for the Promotion of Sciences and Humanities in Germany with the aim of updating its current framework on Future Skills. The topic of "democratic culture" and the associated educational mandate for universities play an important role in the development of the new framework.

annaandthelight

What do digitalization and democracy have in common? With "Digital Democracy" (Digi D), a project aims to create the opportunity to deal intensively with the challenges and opportunities of digital democracy - the "Digital Democracy Camp" (DDC) took place on 23.5.25 and offered an opportunity to make a difference together on site.

The Digital Democracy & Participation research group combines business informatics and democracy research. As a joint initiative of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and the FZI Research Center for Information Technology, the interdisciplinary team led by Jonas Fegert investigates how digital platforms influence political participation - from polarization and disinformation to new forms of participation. Through data-driven analyses and technological developments, the group is laying the scientific foundations for a more resilient digital democracy. A summary of this research approach can be found in the editorial "Digital Democracy: A Wake-Up Call".

This project examines the moral questions raised by the rise of state mass surveillance in liberal democracies. This is enabled by modern technologies and is caught between the protection of privacy and the need for security. While privacy is essential for individuals and democracy, extensive surveillance may be necessary to prevent serious threats such as terrorist attacks. Prof. Dr. Christian Seidel from the Department of Philosophy is working on an empirically informed moral assessment of this issue.

playground.com

The KIdeKu project explores the question of how Large Language Models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT can be used to strengthen deliberative culture. What opportunities do these technologies offer to improve democratic practice?

To answer these key questions, the KIdeKu team wants to involve civil society actors in the research and development process and make the results openly communicated and freely available for use and further development.