(Re)Capturing AI is a research project funded by NordForsk under its Nordic-Baltic initiative on responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (project number 229079).
The project runs from 2026 to 2029 and brings together researchers from four Nordic countries (Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Norway) to study how generative search engines (GSEs) shape news access, public trust, and democratic discourse across the region.
Generative search engines, such as ChatGPT Search and Microsoft Copilot, represent a significant shift in how people find and consume information. Unlike traditional search engines that display ranked links, these systems generate direct, synthesized answers to user queries. While they promise greater efficiency, they also raise serious concerns about transparency, accountability, misinformation, and the visibility of local and independent news sources, particularly in smaller language communities like those in the Nordic countries.
The project examines these challenges through four interconnected work packages. The first audits how GSEs source and present news content across five Nordic languages. The second investigates the economic and editorial implications for Nordic news publishers. The third studies how users trust and engage with AI-generated information, and what this means for political knowledge and learning over time. The fourth analyzes current regulatory frameworks and develops policy recommendations aligned with Nordic democratic values.
The project is a collaboration between Karlstad University (Sweden), the University of Stavanger (Norway), the University of Jyväskylä (Finland), and the University of Copenhagen (Denmark). The consortium combines expertise in media and communication studies, political science, and information systems, and is led by Professor Cornelia Brantner at Karlstad University.