18.09.2025

Review: Alumni Input Talk - The Rhetoric of Generative AI in Research and Communication

On September 18, 2025, the Alumni Relations Office of the University of Tübingen hosted an Alumni Input Talk on the topical issue of “Generative AI”. The speaker was Dr. Markus Gottschling, a university alum, research assistant at the Department of General Rhetoric, and coordinator at the RHET AI Center at the University of Tübingen. With his interdisciplinary expertise in literature, rhetoric, and science communication, he offered participants fascinating insights into the world of artificial intelligence and its impact on scientific practice and science communication.

Gottschling presented AI as a rhetorical system that simulates plausibility rather than verifying facts. He introduced the concept of “co-intentionalities”: hidden opinions embedded in training data that unconsciously shape our communication. Another topic was the so-called “Laughing Cow Effect” in academic publishing, where AI-generated content recursively contaminates the system. The lecture outlined a spectrum ranging from “knowledge validation” to “world exploration,” designed to help researchers reflect ethically and methodologically on their use of AI.

A lively discussion followed, focusing on practical implications. Participants addressed political and educational policy measures for the safe use of AI, noted the growing similarity of student papers, and discussed the challenges of researching unconventional topics with AI tools. The participants also brought up technical aspects, such as GDPR-compliant AI access.

Alumni Input Talks

The Alumni Input Talks are a series of events where alumni researchers present their work that directly engages with current societal challenges. At the heart of the series is knowledge transfer: alumni share insights from their research and illustrate how their findings can contribute to social development, innovation, or problem-solving.

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