Steffen Hornemann

PhD candidate, University of Oslo

Steffen is a Doctoral Research Fellow in the Information Systems research group at the Department of Informatics, University of Oslo. His PhD project examines the implementation and use of Artificial Intelligence in Norwegian municipalities, focusing on its impact on work practices, organizational structures, and citizen-government interactions. Steffen holds a Master's in Social Anthropology from the University of Oslo. His ethnographic master's research explored food delivery gig work and examined how algorithmic management shapes work practices and spatial orientation in urban environments. Steffen has professional experience as a User Experience Researcher conducting qualitative research for digital products and projects on the Internet of Things. He is also a Contributing Editor at the Society for Cultural Anthropology where he produces content for the AnthroPod podcast. His research interests span technology and digital cultures, infrastructure, urban studies, labor, and bureaucracy, with a focus on human-technology interactions in complex sociotechnical systems.

Tell us about your project!

The project examines the implementation and use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Norwegian municipalities through an ethnographic lens. Municipalities, as the level of government closest to citizens, play a crucial role in delivering essential public services and addressing global challenges locally. As these local governments begin experimenting with AI, the project aims to understand the sociotechnical practices surrounding AI implementation and use. The study will focus on two groups: developers of AI solutions and municipal workers potentially using AI in decision-making processes. Through participant observation, interviews, and focus groups, the project will investigate how AI impacts work practices, organizational structures, and relationships between municipal bureaucrats and citizens. Drawing on theoretical frameworks from anthropology, science and technology studies, and design, this research seeks to critically examine the implications of AI-driven systems on local governance, contributing to discussions about AI's role in reshaping public administration and citizen-government interactions at the municipal level.

“The project examines the implementation and use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Norwegian municipalities through an ethnographic lens”

— Steffen Hornemann on his research project “Algorithms in Public Service? A Study of the Implementation and Use of Artificial Intelligence in Norwegian Municipalities”