Artificial Intelligence: Hype, Hope, and Harm @ Humanist Gathering

From tulips to beanie babies and the blockchain, AI is just the latest in a long chain of market-defining buzzwords. Whether it saves the world, ends it, or fades into the background like so many technologies before it, the reality is that it's here, and a lot of folks are relying on you to buy into the hype so that they're not caught holding the bag. So is it worth buying in?

It can write emails and code, generate realistic photos, videos, and music, but can it cure cancer? Will it allow you to make the smart house of your dreams complete with a wise and charismatic assistant? Can it invest for you? Can it unlock faster than light travel or discover new particles or compounds? Will AI boyfriends and girlfriends solve the loneliness epidemic?

We'll dive into a lightly technical explanation of the roots of the technology behind AI, provide some intuition around how it goes from prompts to outputs, and then we'll test those intuitions against some real world scenarios to separate hype from reality.

The presentation and discussion will be from 3:00—4:30, facilitated by HumanistsMN member John Walker. Afterwards, join other Humanist Gathering session attendees in the gallery for refreshments and socializing.

HumanistsMN is committed to fostering an inclusive, collaborative, and caring community for all our members. We welcome everyone who shares our humanist principles. We acknowledge the dignity and worth of all people -- every race, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, social class, abilities, or disabilities. We actively promote a culture of respect, belonging, and compassion as we strive to create an environment where everyone can thrive. By participating in HumanistsMN events, you agree to conduct yourself in accordance with these values.

This event is sponsored by HumanistsMN. If you are not yet a member, please consider joining to help us cover our costs and build the humanist movement. Not ready to join? Donations are gratefully accepted! Join or donate at humanistsmn.org.