Weijie Huang is a PhD candidate in the Department of Media and Culture Studies at Utrecht University, where she is part of the Inclusive AI/UGlobe project. Under the supervision of Professor Payal Arora and Professor Mara Yerkes, Weijie’s research explores the intersection of gender, gaming, and AI, specifically focusing on how AI technology shapes female players’ representation and experiences in games within the Chinese context. Her project examines the interaction between players and AI-driven gaming platforms, utilising social psychology and feminist theories such as belongingness, social support, performative identity, and intersectionality. By investigating these dynamics, she aims to provide insights into how AI can be utilised to enhance inclusivity and equity within digital gaming environments. 

Weijie’s academic background is in Media and Creative Industries, with a degree from the Erasmus School of History, Culture, and Communication at Erasmus University Rotterdam. Her previous research explored cross-cultural media consumption, esports audience engagement, and government control of creative industries. She has conducted studies on fandom culture on social media, mainly focusing on how users engage with content on platforms like YouTube, as well as how esports spectators participate in fandom communities through social media. Additionally, she has analysed the tension between industry innovation and government regulation in the Chinese esports market, providing insights into the challenges and opportunities within the region’s gaming ecosystem.