Researching AI, Society & Democracy in Switzerland

Restricted (Over)view: How we collected and analyzed tens of thousands of Google’s and Bing’s AI summaries on the 10 million initiative

As part of the “RAISD” research project, AlgorithmWatch CH and the Department of Informatics at the University of Zurich examined how the AI-generated responses from Google and Bing portrayed the debate surrounding the 10-million initiative and which sources they used for this purpose. In this article, we explain our methodological approach.

Report

The AI Climate Hoax: Behind the Curtain of How Big Tech Greenwashes Impacts

The tech companies driving AI expansion claim that AI will eventually help solve climate change. Our analysis indicates that such claims are not based on credible and verifiable data. On the contrary, the evidence for any significant positive climate impacts from AI is weak, while its substantial climate damage is clearly documented.

Position Paper

Which AI do we want? Framework conditions for algorithms & artificial intelligence

The Swiss Federal Council is introducing regulation around AI. Below, we summarize what the Federal Council and Parliament should consider from the perspective of fundamental rights, democracy, and sustainability.

AlgorithmWatch’s guideline to use generative AI responsibly

Whether you use ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini, Copilot or Perplexity – generative AI poses massive problems: many results are inaccurate and politically problematic, and the systems’ energy and water consumption is enormous. At the same time, they have become an integral part of everyday life. AlgorithmWatch has developed guidelines to help use generative AI responsibly.

Media release

Discrimination through AI hiring tools: Research project presents new solutions

A major European research project is releasing new tools, approaches, and concrete recommendations aimed at tackling discrimination in job recruiting caused by AI hiring tools. 

Atlas of Automation

To detect benefit fraud, measure work performance, predict a person's creditworthiness or show us personalised content online - algorithms and so-called "artificial intelligence" are shaping our everyday lives today. Where, by whom and for what purpose these algorithmic systems are used, however, is largely a black box. With the Atlas of Automation, AlgorithmWatch CH now sheds light on the darkness.