Luise presented findings from her systematic review for the first time, focusing on the psychological and political consequences for politically active women dealing with technology-facilitated gender-based violence. This research reveals the critical challenges faced by these women, with 81% of the 48 studies reporting psychological distress due to online harassment and 62% documenting changes in political engagement. These findings underscore the broader implications for democratic discourse and social equity.

AI plays a critical role in detecting and mitigating online harassment by analysing patterns of abusive behavior and moderating content in real-time. In Luise’s research project, she focuses on detecting and understanding online misogyny, which aligns closely with the use of AI in identifying gender-based harassment. However, AI also affects platform structures, as algorithms that drive user engagement often prioritise sensational or inflammatory content, inadvertently creating filter bubbles and echo chambers that can amplify or normalise abusive behaviour. This in turn has detrimental psychological and political effects on the targeted women, as Luise’s work has shown. This makes it crucial to not only improve AI content moderation but also reconsider how these algorithms shape the online environment and contribute to the spread of harmful content.

The all-female participant group was truly inspiring, with each woman contributing unique perspectives to the discussions. However, this experience underscored the need for more male researchers to join the conversation and contribute to advancing gender equality and inclusivity in AI research.

The group also engaged in a vital discussion about future career paths in and out of academia, reflecting on the variety of options and personal journeys ahead.