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Short Abstract

We used AI to visualize young people’s ideas for improving their city. They photographed places in Konstanz and shared their visions for change. AI-generated before-and-after images made these ideas tangible and sparked discussions about possibilities and challenges.

Abstract

In our project Konstanz Capture & Connect, four sociology students from the

University of Konstanz explored how artificial intelligence (AI) can be used not only

as a data-processing tool but as a means to visualize ideas and stimulate

participation. Working with young people from a local youth center, we invited them to

photograph places in Konstanz that they would like to change or improve. Together,

we discussed their visions for social and ecological sustainability, which we then

transformed into AI-generated images.

The resulting before-and-after visuals turned abstract ideas into tangible, discussable

realities. Through these images, participants could see their own thoughts reflected

— sometimes surprisingly, sometimes imperfectly — but always as a starting point

for dialogue. This process showed how AI can foster citizen engagement by providing

a visual language for imagination and community-based reflection.

In the workshop, we would like to share our experiences of using AI as a participatory

tool and discuss both the creative potential and the ethical and social challenges it

entails, particularly in working with young audiences. We are especially interested in

how visual methods can bridge the gap between imagination and collective action in

citizen science.