XJTLU’s Professor Prieler gives keynote on representation and bias in AI-driven advertising at ICAR 2026 conference

Delivered on April 28, Dr Prieler’s keynote speech, titled “Who Gets Seen in the Age of AI? Representation and Bias in Advertising,” examined how AI-generated advertising, virtual influencers and AI-generated models shape representation, diversity and bias in contemporary advertising.

Dr Prieler said representation in the age of AI is about who is imagined, generated, optimised and made visible. He emphasised the need for more inclusive, transparent and critically evaluated uses of AI in advertising.

At the core of his address was a question of representation and power: when AI allows advertisers to generate almost any kind of model, persona or identity, who actually gets seen? Dr Prieler argued that representation is shaped not only by AI systems, but also by human choices, brand strategies, platform logics and commercial interests.

In addition to the keynote, Dr Prieler presented a paper titled “Shades of Bias: Colorism in Sri Lankan Television Advertising,” with his former doctoral student Sajitha Lakmali.

Conference banner, ICAR 2026 Hong Kong Baptist University, on April 28. Photo courtesy of Hong Kong Baptist University.

The conference also featured Professor Fuyuan Shen, Professor of Advertising at Pennsylvania State University, as a keynote speaker.

Fellow scholars at ICAR 2026, from left to right: Professor Fuyuan Shen (keynote speaker, Pennsylvania State University); Professor Michael Prieler (keynote speaker, XJTLU); Professor Kara Chan (organiser, Hong Kong Baptist University); and Professor Martin Wong (Provost, Hong Kong Baptist University). Photo courtesy of Hong Kong Baptist University.

“The discussions were highly relevant to my own research,” he said. “The event also offered opportunities to meet colleagues, exchange ideas and strengthen international research connections.”