Prof. Christian Katzenbach participated in the RAIN Film Festival in Barcelona. Organized by Universitat Pompeu Fabra, the international festival is dedicated to AI-generated cinema and a meeting point for research, creation and critical thinking and takes place from 14 to 17 June.
As part of the festival´s Research Day on 15 June at the Poblenou Campus Auditorium, Prof. Katzenbach delivered the keynote “Bringing Generative AI into Being: Controversies, Corporate Power and Creative Work”. He addressed a critical debate: Who sets the rules for what AI can and cannot create? And who benefits?
Drawing on the 2025 controversy surrounding AI-generated images in the style of Studio Ghibli, he highlighted the contradiction of platforms publicly supporting artists while encouraging the imitation of popular aesthetics, quietly shifting responsibility onto users. The talk highlighted the role of major technology companies in shaping norms around AI and creativity and examined what these developments mean for our understanding of originality, creative work, and cultural value.
Find the programme here.