Yini Zhang Explores How AI Is Reshaping Political Communication and Social Media

Yini Zhang.

Prof. Yini Zhang, assistant professor in the Department of Communication, was recently featured in UBNow for her research on the growing role of AI in today’s media environment. 

“AI is powerful, but humans will always be at the driver’s seat. ”
Yini Zhang, Associate Professor in Department of Communication

Prof. Yini Zhang, assistant professor in the Department of Communication, was recently featured in UBNow for her research on political communication, social media, misinformation, and the growing role of artificial intelligence in today’s media environment.

The article highlights Prof. Zhang’s work examining how AI is changing the way people communicate, share information, and understand politics online. Her research uses machine learning and content analysis to study large collections of social media posts, while emphasizing that human expertise remains essential. As she explains, AI can be useful for identifying clear patterns, but more complex questions—such as how online posts frame social issues—still require careful human judgment.