AI tools such as ChatGPT or Bard are currently being discussed and tested intensively by a broad public. The quality with which these tools are able to automatically compose, translate and edit texts and summarize content, as well as hold conversations, write programming code or create visualizations, is both fascinating and unsettling. The impact of AI-based writing on our public and private writing culture, on literature, journalism, academia and education will be enormous, and it is therefore important to address developments in artificial intelligence from a German studies perspective.

The first Swiss German Studies Day, organized by the Swiss Academic Association for German Studies (SAGG), will provide an introduction to the world of automated writing processes. Lectures and a panel discussion will address the fundamentals, processes and effects of AI-based text production from the perspectives of literary studies, linguistics and media studies.

With contributions from Markus Krajewski (Basel), Sina Dell'Anno (Basel), Stephanie Catani (Würzburg), Jenifer Becker (Hildesheim), Sarah Brommer (Bremen), Sarah Ebling (Zurich) and Noah Bubenhofer (Zurich).

Panel discussion on AI in literature and everyday life with Ruth Fulterer (journalist NZZ), Philipp Wampfler (teacher, subject didactician, cultural scientist), Jenifer Becker (Literature Institute Hildesheim), Carolin Amlinger (University of Basel, sociology of literature), Jean Terrier (University of Basel, educational technologies).

This will be followed by the annual meeting of the SAGG.

Venue: University of Basel, Kollegienhaus (main building), Petersplatz 1

Participation fee: Free of charge for members of the SAGG, for all other participants in attendance we charge a contribution towards expenses of CHF 30.00, to be paid directly on site in cash.

Program and applications: https://www.sagg.ch/germanistiktag/
(Registration deadline: 28.11.2023)