On April 5th, students from the Barcelona Study Abroad Experience gathered with the Courage Team in Barcelona to delve into the intricacies of algorithms during a teaching seminar led by Dr. Emily Theophilou. Within the framework of the course "Savoring Spain: Advertising & PR of Spanish Food Products," guest students were introduced to the factors influencing algorithms and how these systems shape our food preferences and appetite.

A group of 50 students from Miami and Chicago Universities visited Pompeu Fabra University to participate in the seminar titled "AI-licious Bites: How Artificial Intelligence Transforms Food Experiences in Social Media," facilitated by Dr. Emily Theophilou. The seminar delved into one of the core themes of the Courage Project: the impact of artificial intelligence algorithms on social media and their influence on our food preferences.

"Algorithms have become essential in shaping today's digital society, yet we often overlook how they influence our food preferences and even our appetites," expressed Emily Theophilou during the seminar. She highlighted numerous risks associated with contemporary algorithms, particularly those concerning filter bubbles and echo chambers, which can bias opinions and constrain diversity. However, she also emphasized the opportunities they present, such as understanding individual and collective behaviors and identifying patterns of online risk, such as suicidal ideation.

As part of the seminar, the students engaged in a group activity crafted by the Courage Team titled "Spot the Bot Among Us," aimed at enhancing media literacy by analyzing the behavior of Generative Artificial Intelligent Agents online. The event concluded with a group photo and a small catering session, allowing participants to savor the experience of learning with the Courage Team in Barcelona.