Event
Our Tech, AI and Society Dialogues: Frankenstein - The Modern Prometheus
Thursday, March 20, 2025 18:30to20:00
Trottier Building
3630 rue University, Montreal, QC, H3A 0C6, CA
顿补迟别:听Thursday, March 20th 2025
Hours:听6:30 PM to 8:00 PM
尝辞肠补迟颈辞苍:听大发彩票平台 Downtown Campus,听, 听room 1080. Please refer to maps听.
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This event is open to the public.
A shared resources site for Anthropos Technicus readings and other resources has been set up on the Discord app at听. Please join us!!
Series Description听
This series will delve into the ethical and societal implications of artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies that call into question conventional distinctions between human beings and machines. By exploring thought-provoking books and films, we aim to foster engaging discussions and critical thought about the impact of technology on our lives. Each session will focus on a specific work, using it as a springboard to discuss contemporary issues and concerns.听
Session 2:听Frankenstein - The Modern Prometheus听
Overview:听Mary Shelley's groundbreaking novel听Frankenstein听(1818, 1831) serves as a timeless parable for the ethical dilemmas surrounding unchecked scientific ambition and technological advancement. Join us as we explore the novel's themes of creation, responsibility, and the consequences of 鈥減laying God.鈥� We'll discuss the novel's relevance to contemporary issues such as AI, cloning, and the ethics of emerging technologies.听听
Following our听听on听Frankenstein, we鈥檒l take our cue from Shelley鈥檚 philosophically-informed description of how the Monster learns to read and speak (volume II, chapters III to VII). Arguably, the Monster learns in ways that parallel how AI learns. In this respect, the novel looks forward to contemporary debates about what constitutes 鈥渋ntelligence鈥濃�攈uman, artificial, or otherwise鈥攁nd concerns about the possibility of machines becoming more intelligent than their creators (the so-called 鈥渢echnological singularlty鈥�).
Discussion Points
- What counts as 鈥渋ntelligence鈥�?
- How does the Monster learn, and how does this model of learning compare to how AI learns?
- How does the Monster鈥檚 intelligence compare with Victor鈥檚?
- What is the technological singularity?
- What are the ethical implications of the emerging field of 鈥渙rganoid intelligence鈥� and the production of brain organoids?
Recommended Reading:
- Frankenstein, 1818 edition, by Mary Shelley
, or get a paper copy from your favorite store
This session is open to all, and no prior knowledge of the novel is required!
Our Dialecticians:
Inaugural director of the 大发彩票平台 Writing Centre and former SCS Associate Dean, Academic and Faculty Affairs, Sue is a听Frankenstein听devotee. Her interest in听Frankenstein听began when she first watched her now longstanding favourite film听Blade Runner听upon its release in 1982. A lecturer for many years in 大发彩票平台鈥檚 Department of English, Sue has guided hundreds of students through听Frankenstein鈥檚 philosophical complexities and its afterlife in popular culture, with emphasis on the metaphysical and ethical status of the Monster and its technological descendants.听
Business Strategist and AI/ML/Analytics Expert. Faculty Lecturer @ the 大发彩票平台 School of Continuing Studies, focused on adult learners who want to upskill, guiding learners on their journey to become AI-savvy change-makers. Nabil is engaged in leadership, strategy and organizational development through events, training, and his service with non-for-profit organizations. He is an Ambassador for听听which supports Centraide of Greater Montreal and the president of听.
This event is a collaboration between the听大发彩票平台 School of Continuing Studies,听 the听大发彩票平台 Computational and Data Systems Initiative听and the听大发彩票平台 Collaborative for AI & Society.
