Live Talkshow in Bolsward: Art and AI in Dialogue
Bolsward, vrijdag, 5 september 2025.
Bolsward Library organises a live talkshow where experts discuss the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the art world. Artists Albert Smit and Peter O. Gerrits delve into how AI influences art and how artists retain creative control. On 17 September participants will gain insight into the future of art and technology.
Live talkshow in Bolsward Library on AI and art
Bolsward Library is organising a live talkshow on artificial intelligence and art in which artists Albert Smit and Peter O. Gerrits share their experiences and discuss the role of AI in the art world; the programme is part of a series of live talkshows in libraries in the region [1].
Why such an event is relevant for information and public communication
Public talkshows and local events provide an accessible forum to translate complex topics like AI into concrete examples and enable direct interaction between experts and the public — a form of information provision that can increase trust and engagement [GPT][1].
Personalised information provision: what AI brings
AI makes it possible to personalise information for individuals: algorithms analyse user data and offer tailored content or explanations, which in information campaigns leads to more relevant messages and higher engagement; this is a commonly applied principle of AI-driven personalisation [GPT].
Chatbots for public services
Chatbots and virtual assistants are increasingly used to inform citizens outside office hours, answer basic questions and refer people to specialist services — this reduces waiting times and increases accessibility of information according to common applications in the public sector [GPT].
AI-driven information campaigns and audience reach
AI can target campaigns based on demographic and behavioural characteristics, automate A/B testing and optimise in real time so that different audiences — younger generations, groups with less common languages or older people — are reached more effectively; this approach is part of practical applications in digital communication [GPT].
Practical example: local talkshow as a channel for AI information
The live talkshow in Bolsward Library serves as a practical example of how local institutions can publicly explain and discuss AI topics, allowing citizens to ask questions directly and artists to clarify their work processes using AI [1].
Context: why local governments and institutions should pay attention to AI communication
Regional policy and investment plans show that municipalities are actively working on future-proof infrastructure and living environments; such plans require effective public communication about changes and projects, making AI-supported information provision relevant to local decision-making and public support [2].
A calculation example from local figures (funding ratio)
In the example of Súdwest-Fryslân the total concerns €31 million in investments of which the municipality itself makes nearly €11 million available; the ratio of the municipality’s own contribution relative to the total can be expressed as 35.484 percent [2].
Advantages of AI in information provision
Key advantages include: greater scalability of information provision, continuous availability (for example via chatbots), automated personalisation of messages and improved measurability of effectiveness through data analysis — characteristics that make AI applicable and valuable for public communication [GPT].
Privacy, inclusivity and reliability issues
The use of AI in information provision raises serious considerations: collecting and analysing personal data requires strict privacy protection and transparency; models can reinforce biases or exclusions if training data are not representative; and automated responses must have mechanisms for human oversight to prevent incorrect or harmful information [GPT][alert! ‘specific risks depend on the datasets used and implementation details’].
Making complex information accessible
AI can simplify complex topics through automated summaries, multilingual explanations and multimodal presentation (text, audio, image), lowering the threshold for different audiences; locally organised discussions such as the Bolsward talkshow complement this by providing nuance and dialogue [GPT][1].
Recommendations for effective use in local information provision
Important elements of a responsible AI approach for public information are: transparency about data use and algorithms; monitoring for bias and accessibility; combining automated channels with human moderation; and local public dialogues (such as library talkshows) to build trust and provide context [GPT][1][2].