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Portland and Biddeford, Maine

University of New England to host forum on AI at its signature President’s Forum on Nov. 13

graphic for president's forum

The global emergence of artificial intelligence has sparked lively conversation across various aspects of society, from education and the arts to the realm of science. The conversations making headlines revolve around issues such as discrimination, copyright, and the question of sentience.  

Adding to the thoughtful, nuanced discourse on AI technologies, the University of New England will host two AI experts for its President’s Forum event at 6 p.m., on Monday, Nov. 13. The event titled, “AI: The End of the World or the Dawn of a New Age?” will be held in the Harold Alfond Forum, Room 283, on UNE’s Biddeford Campus. The event is free and open to the public. 

The two speakers, James Miller, J.D., Ph.D., economics professor at Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts, and David Weinberger, Ph.D., professor at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University, hold different perspectives on the likely impact of AI and will address whether AI poses existential threats to humanity or if it will usher in a new era of efficiency and problem solving. 

Hosted by UNE President James D. Herbert and moderated by John Waterman, Ph.D., philosophy professor at UNE, the President’s Forum fosters a marketplace of ideas that allows difficult conversations to take place with open-mindedness and respect. 

“We are deeply honored to have Professors Miller and Weinberger as our esteemed guests for an open and candid discussion about the implications of artificial intelligence on society,” Herbert emphasized. “The President's Forum is committed to fostering a culture of intellectual exploration and embracing diverse viewpoints, even on challenging and contentious topics. This particular subject, enriched by the insights of these distinguished colleagues, promises to broaden our horizons, encouraging us to consider perspectives we may not have previously encountered.” 

The conversation will embody the civil discourse on challenging subjects that is the objective for the President’s Forum series, Herbert added. 

An expert in economics and law, Miller specializes in game theory and the economics of future technologies. He is the author of “Singularity Rising,” and “Game Theory at Work,” and he is the founder and host of the podcast, “Future Strategist,” where he addresses contemporary topics, including AI.  

As a philosopher, Weinberger has explored the effect of technology — especially AI and the internet — on ideas about ourselves, our world, and business. For the past few years, he has been working, as a part-time writer- and editor-in-residence, in a Google ethics of AI group and among Google AI and humanism researchers. 

The event will also be livestreamed at www.une.edu/live.  

About the University of New England

The University of New England is Maine’s largest private university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible, accredited online degrees. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.