Currently: Preparing ‘Rated by AI’ for ICE 2026
Royal Shrestha
PhD Student, Strategic Communication
CU Boulder
Studying how AI disclosure, algorithmic evaluation, and platform design shape trust and decision-making in high-stakes environments.
About
My research investigates the intersection of platform economics, creator cultures, and emerging algorithmic technologies. I am particularly interested in how strategic communication practices adapt to environments increasingly mediated by artificial intelligence. Prior to my doctoral studies, I spent years analyzing digital storytelling trends and advising emerging creators.
Research
Selected working papers and publications
The ChatGPT Effect: Analyzing Early Adoption Patterns in Academic Settings
The rapid deployment of advanced generative AI tools has precipitated unprecedented pedagogical shifts across global academic institutions. This paper analyzes the preliminary adoption trends of ChatGPT and analogous Large Language Models (LLMs) among undergraduate and graduate populations. By leveraging quantitative survey data (n=4,520) alongside qualitative interview cohorts across five R1 universities, we isolate key vectors […]
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Rated by AI: Algorithmic Evaluation in High-Stakes Environments
Investigating user trust dynamics when facing automated assessment systems. As algorithmic evaluation expands into grading, hiring, and credentialing, the entities being evaluated increasingly adjust their self-presentation for machine readers. Through two experiments (n=1,240), we examine how awareness of AI evaluation shifts perceived fairness, effort allocation, and trust in the evaluating institution, and we identify disclosure […]
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Disclosure Defaults: Platform Architecture and Transparency
How UX design influences the likelihood of ethical disclosure by influencers. Drawing on a content analysis of 500 sponsored posts across four platforms, this study demonstrates that default interface affordances — toggle placement, label prominence, and friction in the posting flow — predict disclosure compliance more strongly than regulatory regime or creator tenure. Implications for […]
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Teaching
The Influencer Industry
An advanced seminar interrogating the structural mechanisms, labor dynamics, and cultural impact of the contemporary influencer ecosystem. Students critically engage with platform economics, algorithmic governance, and the commodification of authenticity.
The Creator Economy
Exploring the historical evolution and current material realities of digital content creation. Focuses on monetization strategies, intellectual property in digital spaces, and the precarious nature of platform-dependent creative labor.
Digital Marketing Strategy
Comprehensive curriculum designing holistic digital campaigns, emphasizing analytics, consumer behavior, and brand positioning in emerging markets.