AI & Institutions
WINIR Young Scholars Workshop on
AI & Institutions
Online
17 May 2025
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is profoundly transforming the global landscape, reshaping not only technological innovation but also institutional operations and social structures. This WINIR Young Scholars Workshop seeks to critically interrogate the intricate and multidimensional impacts of AI across diverse institutional domains. Specifically, it aims to explore the intersections of technological advancements and societal structures through the lens of institutional theory, considering how AI both disrupts and reconstitutes organizational norms, practices, and frameworks.
As AI continues to evolve, it challenges traditional paradigms of organizational design, governance, and social interaction, prompting a re-evaluation of institutional resilience and adaptability. Key areas of interest include but are not limited to the reconfiguration of institutional capabilities, the interplay between AI and geopolitical or regulatory challenges, the promotion or undermining of equity and inclusivity, and the transformation of workforce dynamics and organizational adaptability.
Early career scholars working on theoretical and practical insights within the field of institutional theory related to the emergence of AI and the interaction between institutions and AI were encouraged to apply. In particular, those working on projects based in or relating to the Global South are of particular interest, as well as work related to or concerning the semiconductor, chip, or GPU industry.
Abstracts addressing, but not limited to, the following themes were welcomed:
- Geopolitical Dynamics and Technological Sovereignty: Intersections of Technological Innovation, International Relations, and Critical Infrastructure. What are the implications of emerging geopolitical tensions and shifts for technological sovereignty, data governance, and the strategic importance of AI?
- Institutional Transformation and Resilience: Structural and operational impacts of AI. How AI reshapes organizational structures, workforce dynamics, adaptability, and resilience in sectors like finance, healthcare, education, administration, and beyond.
- Governance, Ethics, and Social Impact in AI: Emerging governance frameworks and mechanisms are shaping the accountability, transparency, and ethical alignment of AI systems. These include public, private, and hybrid regulatory approaches, as well as societal perceptions and ethical considerations. Additionally, the social dimensions of AI are highlighted, focusing on how machine learning can challenge or advance principles of fairness, representation, and accessibility in technological innovation.
The call elicited a high number of quality submissions. Successful applicants have been invited to present their research online to an audience of peers and senior scholars, and receive constructive conceptual and methodological critique.
Invitation to submit to a Special Issue of NYCU Law Review
Participants in the Online workshop will be invited to submit their final papers for fast-track publication in a Special Volume of the NYCU Law Review (subject to peer-review). Selected participants will have the opportunity to present in person at Taiwan’s annual Conference on Law and Technology, scheduled for November 2025. Priority will be given to first time attendees at the WINIR YS conferences.
Program
Session I
9:00 AM – 10:45 AM (US ET) | 2 PM – 16:45 PM UK | 3 PM – 5:45 PM (CET) | 9:00 PM – 10:45 AM (TST)
Ali Kagan Ozcan (University of Padova) “Perception vs Reality: Exploring the Perceptual Boundaries of ‘AI-generated content’ in Modern Content Marketing”
Katarzyna Cieślak (AGH University of Krakow) “Shaping Conversational AI: Institutionalized Gender Patterns in the Design Process”
Damjan Grozdanovski (University of Antwerp) “Governing AI and Copyright in the EU – Rethinking the Operationalization of the AI Act and DSM Directive from an Adaptive Governance Perspective”
Ezgi Turgut Bilgiç (Hacettepe Univ. / Turkish DPA) “AI and Institutional Adaptability in Türkiye’s Public Sector: Challenges and Opportunities in Policy Implementation“
Session II
11:00 AM – 12:40 PM (US ET) | 4 PM – 18:45 PM UK | 5 PM – 7:45 PM (CET) | 11:00 PM – 12:40 AM (TST)
Kartini Makmur (University of Warwick) “Can AI-Based Anti-Money Laundering Align with Human Rights? Insights from Legal Institutionalism”
Gad Weiss (NYU / Columbia Law) “Aligned Structuring of AI Startups“
Gal Forer (UC Berkeley School of Law) “Towards A Beijing Effect in AI Regulation?”
Gunn Jiravuttipong (UC Berkeley School of Law) “Hedging Against the Storm: The Geo-Political Economy of Data Center Investments in Southeast Asia”
Please address all inquiries to [email protected].
About WINIR Young Scholars
WINIR Young Scholars (WYS) aims to identify and promote the next generation of institutional scholars from diverse geographies, sociocultural contexts and disciplines. Its major activities are directed towards creating an inclusive and supportive space for young scholars to receive guidance and mentorship in their journey toward establishing themselves as knowledge creators and navigating the academic job market.
WYS is a collaboration between the World Interdisciplinary Network for Institutional Research (WINIR), the Law as Science Project, and the Young Scholars Initiative (YSI) of the Institute for New Economic Thinking.
Convenors: Simon Sun (NYCU Law), Christina Mosalagae (University of Turin), Nikhilesh Sinha (Hult International Business School), Vanessa Villanueva (European University Institute).
