Wed. March 5: AI Workshop and Talk with Virginia Dignum

Mon, 03 Mar 2025 11:13:39 -0500

Please use the Dresher Center myUMBC event page links here to RSVP. Workshop space is limited.

AI and the Humanities (workshop, 12:00-1:00 PM, PAHB 216)

The AI Paradox (talk, 4:00-5:00 PM, PAHB 216)

This Wednesday, March 5, join the Department of English for two events with Virginia Dignum, Professor of Responsible Artificial Intelligence at Umeå University, Sweden where she leads the AI Policy Lab. The events will explore responses to developments in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the challenges and opportunities AI poses for higher education and the world.

Full descriptions of the events are copied below. Flyers for both events are attached to this post.

The Department of English presents "AI and the Humanities"

Workshop with Virginia Dignum

Wednesday, March 5, 2025 · 12 - 1 PM

Performing Arts & Humanities Building : 216

The Department of English presents

AI and the Humanities

Increasingly, companies spearheading artificial intelligence technology are relying on those with humanities expertise to engage in discussions about the design and deployment of AI. In recent years, corporations ranging from Boeing to Microsoft have hired philosophers, anthropologists, sociologists and experts in cultural studies to collaborate with technologists on the development of new AI tools. Even governments are calling on humanistic expertise as AI-innovations disperse through societies.

What is the role of humanities in these spaces? What kinds of questions do humanists confront? Why is their expertise needed?

In this workshop, Professor Virginia Dignum will guide you through real-life examples of AI problems that have benefited from the critical, interpretive and analytical capabilities that humanities training can supply.

Come Learn More About...

The types of questions humanities experts are called on to confront in the AI-space;

How humanistic and technical reasoning can collaborate, and why each has a role to play in the development of AI technology.'

The skills you (as a humanist) have that you can apply to technological discussions;

Why your insights are necessary for a more equitable and just AI-driven society.

Space is limited. Registration is required.

This event is sponsored by the Breaking the M.O.L.D. initiative funded by the Mellon Foundation.

Join us later that afternoon for The AI Paradox, a talk by Dr. Dignum.

Virginia Dignum is Professor of Responsible Artificial Intelligence at Umeå University, Sweden where she leads the AI Policy Lab. She is also senior advisor on AI policy to the Wallenberg Foundations. She has a PHD in Artificial Intelligence from Utrecht University in 2004, is member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA), and Fellow of the European Artificial Intelligence Association (EURAI). She is a member of the United Nations Advisory Body on AI, the Global Partnership on AI (GPAI), UNESCO’s expert group on the implementation of AI recommendations, OECD’s Expert group on AI, founder of ALLAI, the Dutch AI Alliance, and co-chair of the WEF’s Global Future Council on AI. She was a member of EU’s High Level Expert Group on Artificial Intelligence and leader of UNICEF's guidance for AI and children. Her new book The AI Paradox, is planned for publication in 2025.

Co-sponsored by the Center for Social Science Scholarship and the Dresher Center for the Humanities.

The AI Paradox

Wednesday, March 5, 2025 · 4 - 5 PM

Performing Arts & Humanities Building : 216

The Department of English presents

The AI Paradox

This talk discussed the often contradictory nature of AI, exploring how its advancements highlight the irreplaceable qualities of human intelligence and the importance of governance.

We'll use key paradoxes, such as the Agreement Paradox, which questions why the more we discuss AI, the less we seem to agree on what it is. We'll also examine the Intelligence Paradox, revealing how AI's capabilities underscore what makes human intelligence unique. Furthermore, we'll tackle the Justice Paradox, addressing the challenge of achieving true fairness with AI, and the Regulation Paradox, which focuses on balancing innovation and oversight in the AI era.

All in all, an exploration of how paradoxes can help us uncover how AI shapes our world and how we can ensure it serves humanity ethically and equitably

This event is sponsored by the Breaking the M.O.L.D. initiative funded by the Mellon Foundation.

Virginia Dignum is Professor of Responsible Artificial Intelligence at Umeå University, Sweden where she leads the AI Policy Lab. She is also senior advisor on AI policy to the Wallenberg Foundations. She has a PHD in Artificial Intelligence from Utrecht University in 2004, is member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA), and Fellow of the European Artificial Intelligence Association (EURAI). She is a member of the United Nations Advisory Body on AI, the Global Partnership on AI (GPAI), UNESCO’s expert group on the implementation of AI recommendations, OECD’s Expert group on AI, founder of ALLAI, the Dutch AI Alliance, and co-chair of the WEF’s Global Future Council on AI. She was a member of EU’s High Level Expert Group on Artificial Intelligence and leader of UNICEF's guidance for AI and children. Her new book The AI Paradox, is planned for publication in 2025.

Co-sponsored by the Center for Social Science Scholarship and the Dresher Center for the Humanities.