Between Meaning and Noise: Exploring Communication Excess in AI-Permeated Communication Environments
Sossini, Alessandra LU and Andersson, Rickard LU
(2026)
Controversies of AI Society
p.15-16
- Abstract
- Scarcity, abundance, and excess – the experience of having too little, just enough, or too much of something (Abbott, 2014) – we frequently encounter in our lives. However, given recent advancements in generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), we now face an unprecedented volume of communication across digital media contexts (Schulz et al., 2025). GenAI enables faster, more efficient ways of producing and disseminating communication artefacts – created objects or expressions that convey meaning – within the online sphere. Simultaneously, AI-driven systems influence the norms governing the production and circulation of these artefacts, embedding communication practices within an algorithmic logic (Floridi, 2024).
The growing... (More) - Scarcity, abundance, and excess – the experience of having too little, just enough, or too much of something (Abbott, 2014) – we frequently encounter in our lives. However, given recent advancements in generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), we now face an unprecedented volume of communication across digital media contexts (Schulz et al., 2025). GenAI enables faster, more efficient ways of producing and disseminating communication artefacts – created objects or expressions that convey meaning – within the online sphere. Simultaneously, AI-driven systems influence the norms governing the production and circulation of these artefacts, embedding communication practices within an algorithmic logic (Floridi, 2024).
The growing volume of communication artifacts across digital media raises critical questions about its consequences for individuals, organizations, and society, particularly regarding the experience of meaning versus “noise”. While recent research suggests that individuals more frequently appreciate information abundance rather than experiencing information overload in media contexts (Schulz et al., 2025), much of the literature continues to emphasise adverse effects, such as sensory overload and impacts on psychological well-being (see Shahrzadi et al., 2024).
This study aims to advance knowledge of how individuals experience increased communication volume by focusing on LinkedIn – a platform, where algorithmic visibility has become a key currency for career advancements and success in communicative capitalism. With every second post being estimated to be produced by GenAI (Gilham, 2025), LinkedIn exemplifies the intersection of content increase and algorithmic mediation. We seek to explore how LinkedIn prosumers – users who are both producers and consumers – make sense and relate to this development, while adopting similar practices themselves. In contrast to prior research, this study should shift the focus from perceived volume/quantity to perceived quality/value of current online communication. We intend to employ a multi-method approach combining digital ethnographic talk-along techniques with traditional interviews to observe user interactions with the communication landscape and uncover lived experiences and perceptions of meaning in an AI-meditated communication environment.
This study offers empirical insights into how algorithmic logics shape everyday communication. It seeks to advance debates on how AI-driven systems redefine what counts as meaningful communication and to potentially start conceptual discussions on communication inflation and the emergence of an algorithmic episteme.
(Less) - Abstract (Swedish)
- Scarcity, abundance, and excess – the experience of having too little, just enough, or too much of something (Abbott, 2014) – we frequently encounter in our lives. However, given recent advancements in generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), we now face an unprecedented volume of communication across digital media contexts (Schulz et al., 2025). GenAI enables faster, more efficient ways of producing and disseminating communication artefacts – created objects or expressions that convey meaning – within the online sphere. Simultaneously, AI-driven systems influence the norms governing the production and circulation of these artefacts, embedding communication practices within an algorithmic logic (Floridi, 2024).
The growing... (More) - Scarcity, abundance, and excess – the experience of having too little, just enough, or too much of something (Abbott, 2014) – we frequently encounter in our lives. However, given recent advancements in generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), we now face an unprecedented volume of communication across digital media contexts (Schulz et al., 2025). GenAI enables faster, more efficient ways of producing and disseminating communication artefacts – created objects or expressions that convey meaning – within the online sphere. Simultaneously, AI-driven systems influence the norms governing the production and circulation of these artefacts, embedding communication practices within an algorithmic logic (Floridi, 2024).
The growing volume of communication artifacts across digital media raises critical questions about its consequences for individuals, organizations, and society, particularly regarding the experience of meaning versus “noise”. While recent research suggests that individuals more frequently appreciate information abundance rather than experiencing information overload in media contexts (Schulz et al., 2025), much of the literature continues to emphasise adverse effects, such as sensory overload and impacts on psychological well-being (see Shahrzadi et al., 2024).
This study aims to advance knowledge of how individuals experience increased communication volume by focusing on LinkedIn – a platform, where algorithmic visibility has become a key currency for career advancements and success in communicative capitalism. With every second post being estimated to be produced by GenAI (Gilham, 2025), LinkedIn exemplifies the intersection of content increase and algorithmic mediation. We seek to explore how LinkedIn prosumers – users who are both producers and consumers – make sense and relate to this development, while adopting similar practices themselves. In contrast to prior research, this study should shift the focus from perceived volume/quantity to perceived quality/value of current online communication. We intend to employ a multi-method approach combining digital ethnographic talk-along techniques with traditional interviews to observe user interactions with the communication landscape and uncover lived experiences and perceptions of meaning in an AI-meditated communication environment.
This study offers empirical insights into how algorithmic logics shape everyday communication. It seeks to advance debates on how AI-driven systems redefine what counts as meaningful communication and to potentially start conceptual discussions on communication inflation and the emergence of an algorithmic episteme.
(Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/b6223efa-b4c6-4106-95c5-f1de5336fdcd
- author
- Sossini, Alessandra
LU
and Andersson, Rickard
LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2026-04
- type
- Contribution to conference
- publication status
- published
- subject
- pages
- 15 - 16
- conference name
- Controversies of AI Society
- conference location
- Copenhagen, Denmark
- conference dates
- 2026-04-09 - 2026-04-10
- DOI
- 10.54337/aau.add.scai.boa
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- b6223efa-b4c6-4106-95c5-f1de5336fdcd
- date added to LUP
- 2026-04-14 11:44:25
- date last changed
- 2026-05-12 07:54:54
@misc{b6223efa-b4c6-4106-95c5-f1de5336fdcd,
abstract = {{Scarcity, abundance, and excess – the experience of having too little, just enough, or too much of something (Abbott, 2014) – we frequently encounter in our lives. However, given recent advancements in generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), we now face an unprecedented volume of communication across digital media contexts (Schulz et al., 2025). GenAI enables faster, more efficient ways of producing and disseminating communication artefacts – created objects or expressions that convey meaning – within the online sphere. Simultaneously, AI-driven systems influence the norms governing the production and circulation of these artefacts, embedding communication practices within an algorithmic logic (Floridi, 2024).<br/><br/>The growing volume of communication artifacts across digital media raises critical questions about its consequences for individuals, organizations, and society, particularly regarding the experience of meaning versus “noise”. While recent research suggests that individuals more frequently appreciate information abundance rather than experiencing information overload in media contexts (Schulz et al., 2025), much of the literature continues to emphasise adverse effects, such as sensory overload and impacts on psychological well-being (see Shahrzadi et al., 2024). <br/><br/>This study aims to advance knowledge of how individuals experience increased communication volume by focusing on LinkedIn – a platform, where algorithmic visibility has become a key currency for career advancements and success in communicative capitalism. With every second post being estimated to be produced by GenAI (Gilham, 2025), LinkedIn exemplifies the intersection of content increase and algorithmic mediation. We seek to explore how LinkedIn prosumers – users who are both producers and consumers – make sense and relate to this development, while adopting similar practices themselves. In contrast to prior research, this study should shift the focus from perceived volume/quantity to perceived quality/value of current online communication. We intend to employ a multi-method approach combining digital ethnographic talk-along techniques with traditional interviews to observe user interactions with the communication landscape and uncover lived experiences and perceptions of meaning in an AI-meditated communication environment. <br/><br/>This study offers empirical insights into how algorithmic logics shape everyday communication. It seeks to advance debates on how AI-driven systems redefine what counts as meaningful communication and to potentially start conceptual discussions on communication inflation and the emergence of an algorithmic episteme.<br/>}},
author = {{Sossini, Alessandra and Andersson, Rickard}},
language = {{eng}},
pages = {{15--16}},
title = {{Between Meaning and Noise: Exploring Communication Excess in AI-Permeated Communication Environments}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.54337/aau.add.scai.boa}},
doi = {{10.54337/aau.add.scai.boa}},
year = {{2026}},
}