AI and the Future of Humanity: Work, Worship, and Relationships with Neil McArthur

AI and the Future of Humanity: Work, Worship, and Relationships with Neil McArthur
Named by Maclean’s Magazine as one of Canada’s leading experts on AI, Dr.Neil McArthur specializes in ethics and technology and his current research focuses especially on how artificial intelligence is used for companionship and intimacy. In 2023, he created a new course exploring issues ranging from humanity’s potential annihilation by artificial intelligence (AI) to what happens to copyright law when an algorithm can create songs with Neil Young’s voice. Dr.McArthur believes AI has huge benefits and can make society better but only if humans truly understand and harness its power.
"What's the big idea?" is a podcast featuring President Michael Benarroch in conversation with some of today's big thinkers. Together, they’ll unpack “the big idea” their work explores. The series will feature an exciting and diverse array of voices from the UM community contributing to the cultural, social and economic well-being of the people of Manitoba, Canada and the world.
Michael Benarroch returned to Winnipeg to assume his role as President of the University of Manitoba on July 1, 2020.
Throughout his career spanning over three decades, Dr. Benarroch has demonstrated his lifelong dedication to transformative higher education and has made significant contributions to the fields of economics, research, and post-secondary education administration.
Dr. Benarroch served as Provost and Vice-President (Academic) at Toronto Metropolitan University from 2017 to 2020, acting as the institution’s chief academic and operating officer, as well as a tenured professor in the department of Economics, Faculty of Arts. He served as the Dean of the I.H. Asper School of Business at the University of Manitoba from 2011 to 2017 and enjoyed a 21-year-career with the University of Winnipeg, where he was chair of the department of Economics (1999 to 2007) and served as the university’s Faculty of Business and Economics founding dean from 2008 to 2011.
"As UM president, I want to invite our community to think big, and support the big ideas that move us forward. In my new podcast, we explore what ignites a big idea and the courage to act upon it." - Michael Benarroch University of Manitoba
Neil McArthur Professor of Philosophy and Director of the Centre for Professional and Applied Ethics at the University of Manitoba. Specializes in ethics and technology, and in sexual ethics. Current research focuses on Artificial Intelligence, specifically on social AI, AI and religion, and the use of AI for companionship and intimacy. The Dr also make films and performance works. My film Land of Oil and Water (co-directed with Warren Carious) documents the impact of oil extraction on Canada’s indigenous communities.
The Centre for Professional and Applied Ethics (CPAE) at the University of Manitoba promotes research and discussion on a wide range of ethical, social, political and legal issues. The centre sponsors public talks and forums which foster free and open debate on topics of interest to academics, students and the public.
#ai #humanity #relationships #worship
S3, Episode 1
#big