On March 21, 2024, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution on Artificial Intelligence, calling for the “promotion of ‘safe, secure and trustworthy’ artificial intelligence (AI) systems that will also benefit sustainable development for all” (UN News). That the United Nations was moved to pass this resolution suggests that a) Artificial Intelligence is a new and emergent part of human life that needs to be addressed at the global level and b) there are serious concerns about the dangers posed by the current and future use of Artificial Intelligence.
This year’s Challenge Week will help us think through the hopes and concerns expressed in the UN’s resolution: what might the explosive use and development of AI mean for
- labor, education, and art;
- our ability to make and analyze meaning and knowledge;
- the relationship between citizens and states and inter-state relations?
All events are free and open to the public.
AI: The Past & Future of Meaningful Work
Cole Makuch, IBM
Monday, September 23
College of Business Auditorium
4:30-5:30 PM (with refreshments starting at 4:00)
Cole Makuch is a Senior Strategy Consultant for IBM where day-to-day he works on projects related to IT modernization for large enterprises. Cole has also collaborated with IBM Research, where he has contributed to publications on Reinforcement Learning (RL) AI, and they help mentor IBM researchers seeking to pitch their AI startup ideas to leadership.
A Life of Advocacy: Supporting the Pro-Democracy Movement in Syria
Dr. Zachary Stine, UCA Computer Science Department
Tuesday, September 24
Doyne Lecture Hall
5:00-6:00 PM (with refreshments starting at 4:30)
Dr. Stine joined the UCA Department of Computer Science and Engineering as assistant professor in 2022 where he teaches classes on artificial intelligence and machine learning. He conducts research that involves the use of computational methods to study human sociocultural systems. In his published research, Dr. Stine has compared the way social media users discuss religious identities (in collaboration with Dr. Jim Deitrick of UCA’s own Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies), the language dynamics of human and bot users on Twitter, the evolution of Ukrainian legislation through the language of draft laws, and the comparison of how China is discursively constructed within two different online discussion forums. Dr. Stine received his PhD in computer and information sciences from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and is an alumni of the University of Central Arkansas where he received a BA in religious studies.
Teaching, Learning, & Thinking in an age of AI
Panel Discussion
Dr. Donna Wake, UCA Education
Dr. Vicki McDonald, UCA Biology
Dr. Zachary Smith, UCA History
Moderated by Dr. Jen Talbot, UCA Communication with introductions by Dr. Amy Hawkins
Wednesday, September 25
5:00-6:00 PM (with refreshments starting at 4:30)
Schichtl Room 112
The availability of AI platforms such as ChatGPT has been for educators and students alike a source of both deep concern and excitement, aversion and attraction. In the spring of 2024, UCA’s Center for Excellence in Teaching and Leadership led a faculty symposium on the use of AI in education. The goal of this panel is to not only share perspectives and understandings that emerged from this symposium, but to engage with students in the audience about their use of and thoughts on AI in their education.
Creativity Redefined: AI’s Impact on the Future of Artistic Expression
Holly Laws and Scott Meador, UCA Art Department
Friday, September 27
3:00-4:00 PM (with refreshments starting at 4:00)
Schichtl Room 112
AI’s ability to generate pieces of writing and images has added complexity to a long-standing philosophical question: what is art? Holly Laws and Scott Meador will share their experiences using AI in their creative endeavors and will help us explore what AI might mean for the future of art and art professionals.
Challenge Week Trivia Night!
Hosted by UCA Honors with MC Amber Wilson
Friday, September 27
7:00-9:00 PM
Skinny J’s off of Dave Ward
Cap off Challenge Week with an AI trivia challenge! Questions will be sourced from the week’s events and beyond. Starter appetizers and sodas will be provided.
