معصومه موسی وند

This research examines the Iranian digital community's engagement with the Metaverse, analyzing 14,724 tweets (expanding to 48,620 with retweets) from 23,571 unique users. Interest in the Metaverse among Iranians surged in the seven months following Facebook's rebranding but has since waned. A significant link between digital currency discussions and Metaverse topics was observed. Economic activists in the cryptocurrency market, forming the primary content creators, generally portray the Metaverse positively, focusing on earning opportunities. Another active group includes technology enthusiasts who share the latest Metaverse developments. Moreover, some users integrate Iran's socio-political context into their discussions, often contrasting Iran's technological stance with global giants like Facebook and addressing internet censorship. A distinct perspective comes from users wary of potential colonialist uses of technologies like the Metaverse, expressing apprehension about human subjugation. This sentiment forms the basis of most negative views on the Metaverse's development within the Iranian digital sphere.

Artificial intelligence has brought about significant changes in various creative domains, sparking discussions about the nature of art and its authenticity in the era of AI. Some scholars assert that the computer monitor now serves as a canvas, a brush, a musical instrument, and even an art tutor, leading us to explore deeper connections between AI and creativity. However, in this presentation, we wish to emphasize the humanistic dimension of creative processes once more. we acknowledge the role of AI in enhancing creative endeavors, but we firmly believe that human creativity remains paramount in the production of artistic works. The current notion of machines replacing artists is, in our view, more of a media sensation than a reality. Examining the history of electronic arts, our paper argues that claims of AI's artistic superiority are not novel; they echo similar trends from the past. The current enthusiasm mirrors earlier media frenzies. While the sciences have made significant strides in unraveling the mysteries of the human brain, our understanding of the intricacies of our remarkably creative minds, their origins, and their fulfillment in our brains remains quite limited. Until these processes are thoroughly comprehended, artistic creation will continue to be a distinctly human endeavor.

It is believed that a considerable part of the American public believe in American exceptionalism, a belief that the United States possesses unique qualities and a special destiny that sets it apart from other nations, often linked to ideals of democracy and freedom. But are there people in the US who are artistically exceptionalist too? We used GSS 2014 survey data and selected those cases that either said they were somewhat proud or very proud of American artistic achievements. Overall, 1043 respondents fell in this category of American artistic exceptionalism and we put their data in a new SPSS file for further analysis. Initially, we held the belief that individuals who espouse American artistic exceptionalism were predominantly male, inclined towards conservatism, and aligned with the Republican party. However, our findings unequivocally refute these preconceptions. In instances such as political leanings and voting patterns, the data demonstrated precisely the opposite trend, revealing that American artistic exceptionalists were more inclined to identify as Democrats rather than Republicans.

This article presents a comprehensive analysis of the role and impact of micro-celebrities in the realm of advertising and promotion within the Iranian corporate sector. Grounded in the perspectives of 42 corporate managers specializing in these fields, the study employs grounded theory methodology to explore the multifaceted strategies and challenges associated with leveraging micro-celebrity endorsements in Iran. Through in-depth interviews, the research reveals six key themes: strategic integration of micro-celebrities, cultural compatibility and sensitivity, impact measurement challenges, digital savvy and innovation, ethical considerations and reputation management, and navigating regulatory environments. Our findings emphasize the importance of strategic alignment between micro-celebrities and brand identities, underscoring the need for authenticity and cultural resonance in marketing campaigns. The study also highlights the complexities in measuring the impact of micro-celebrity endorsements and the increasing significance of digital innovation in this domain. Furthermore, it explores the ethical dimensions and reputation management strategies critical in micro-celebrity collaborations, as well as the challenges posed by the unique regulatory landscape in Iran.

AI is developing so fast that philosophers of technology could not keep up with philosophizing it. AI promises to augment human capabilities, offering new insights and efficiencies. However, it also raises concerns about diminished autonomy and decision-making skills. Balancing AI's potential with ethical considerations is crucial to ensure it acts as a tool that enriches, rather than diminishes, human agency. In the present study, we interviewed a group of 62 tech-savvy professionals from Iran's technology sector to see how they think about the relationship between a much more powerful AI in the future and its relationship with human agency. Since these participants were -supposedly- more acquaint with AI and its capabilities, we decided interviewing them would yield important insights. After qualitatively analyzing our data, we came into five main categories of perspectives on AI and future of human agency: Augmentation and Enhancement, Displacement and Dependency, Collaboration and Partnership, Control and Ethics, and, Transformation and Transcendence. For each category, we provided examples from our interviews.