Data and AI in Society Lecture Series

Join us for the inaugural lecture of the MIDAS Data and AI in Society Lecture Series! This series is open to everyone—no AI experience is needed. Discover how data and artificial intelligence are shaping our lives and our society and why it matters to you. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage, learn, and be inspired!

The location for each lecture will vary on a monthly basis.

Series Speakers

Feb. 27, 2025
Can AI Be Conscious, and Why Does It Matter?

Kentaro Toyama, W.K. Kellogg Professor of Community Information at the University of Michigan School of Information and Fellow of the Dalai Lama Center for Ethics and Transformative Values at MIT

Generative AI systems like ChatGPT can hold conversations that feel uncannily human. But could they ever truly be conscious—and why does that matter? As AI continues to evolve at breakneck speed, these questions are no longer theoretical—they’re essential.

Join us as Toyama explores the cutting-edge intersection of AI, neuroscience, and philosophy, diving into profound questions about moral personhood:

  • Should AI systems be treated with the same moral considerations as humans?
  • Is it possible to harm an AI system, and should we care?
  • When, if ever, should we hold machines accountable for their actions?

Through a thought-provoking mix of expert insights and personal perspectives, Toyama challenges us to rethink what it means to be conscious, moral, and responsible in an AI-driven world. Don’t miss this compelling discussion that goes beyond the hype and straight to the heart of what it means to coexist with intelligent machines.