AI, Culture & Society Reading Group – Fall 2025
AI follows stereotypes related to scientific research, oftentimes expected to serve a useful purpose. Its paradigm-shifting potential is evident in direct applications such as automating processes, creating intelligent assistants, optimizing processes, and solving previously intractable tasks with the power of vast datasets and deeper networks. While these technical advancements are transforming various domains – from research methodologies to corporate endeavors – our emphasis is on understanding the profound effects AI has on society at large.
The DSI Community AI, Culture & Society aims to stimulate discussions on the societal impact of AI and create a forum to explore how the humanities can help to understand the role of AI in contemporary life.
The community is pleased to invite you to join the AI, Culture & Society reading group, a series of informal meetings for everybody interested in the role of AI in contemporary society.
When / Wann:
- September 25, 2025: Techno-Fascist Takeover: Are We Ready for Decomputing? by Daniel McQuillan
- October 30, 2025: «Moore’s Law for Everything» by Sam Altman & «Why AI Will Save the World» by Marc Andreessen
- November 27, 2025: «Specialists without Spirit: GenAI Professors, Epistemic Networks, and Religious Education» by Prof. Dr. Beth Singler
- December 11, 2025: Further information to follow.
Where / Wo: El punto de Encuentro, Josefstrasse 102, 8005 Zurich
Language / Sprache: English
Contact / Kontakt: aiculturesociety@dsi.uzh.ch
Organisation: DSI Community AI, Culture & Society
Program
| The tentative schedule for each reading group session is as follows: | |
| 18:30 - 19:00 | Getting to know each other |
| 19:00 - 19:15 | Introduction to the community |
| 19:15 - 19:30 | Overview of the book and author |
| 19:30 - 20:30 | Open discussion |