Engineering collective attention in the age of artificial intelligence

Abstract This article explores how collective attention can be both disrupted and enhanced by artificial intelligence. It examines how the rise of algorithmic recommendation systems, generative media, and large-scale language models has transformed public communication and redefined what captures human attention. The analysis identifies the dual nature of artificial intelligence: while it can distort information ecosystems through deepfakes, social bots, and engagement-driven algorithms, it also holds the potential to strengthen collective reasoning by improving access to reliable knowledge and facilitating the clarification of complex information. Drawing on interdisciplinary research, the article develops a multilevel framework for understanding and improving collective attention. At the individual level, it emphasizes education, digital literacy, and critical awareness to build cognitive resilience. At the governmental level, it assesses regulatory and ethical strategies for ensuring transparency, accountability, and fairness in the design and deployment of AI systems. At the societal level, it highlights the promise of human–AI collaboration to guide attention toward truth, empathy, and shared problem-solving. The article concludes that collective attention might be engineered in a beneficial way when artificial intelligence is governed transparently, used ethically, and integrated with public oversight to reinforce informed, cohesive, and resilient democracies.