Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing how we work, learn, communicate, create, and understand the world around us. So what does that mean for us as Unitarian Universalists? And, amid all this technological change, what does it mean to stay human?

This fall, Rev. Dr. Emma will lead a six-part exploration of artificial intelligence through the lenses of curiosity, ethics, justice, and our UU values. Together, we’ll demystify some of how these technologies actually work and wrestle with questions about bias, privacy, environmental impact, creativity, human connection, power, and responsibility.  Throughout the series, we’ll ask not simply “What can AI do?” but “What should we do with it?” Where might AI support human flourishing and help us live our values more fully? Where might it get in the way? What parts of being human do we want to protect, practice, and perhaps stubbornly refuse to outsource? And what kind of world do we want these technologies to help us build?Rev. Dr. Emma comes to these conversations as both a scientist and an educator, but also as someone who is learning and wrestling with these questions alongside everyone else. They have been exploring the opportunities and challenges of generative AI in their teaching at Arizona State University and have developed and facilitated AI workshops for UU ministers through the Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association and for two other UU congregations. They’re excited to bring that ongoing exploration to CCUU and to learn from the experiences, questions, hopes, and concerns in this community.

No technical background or previous AI experience is needed. AI experts, enthusiasts, skeptics, newbies, and the AI-bewildered are all welcome. Bring your questions, your curiosity, your skepticism, and your own experiences. We’ll learn, experiment, question, and discern together.