The Humanities Center at UHart is happy to announce its Spring 2026 Lecture Series on the topic “AI in Action: The Future of Humans.” All talks are on 5 p.m.–6 p.m. in the Greenberg Center for Judaic Studies and are open to the university community and public. Three UHart professors, all of whom are Faculty Fellows of the Humanities Center for 2025–26, along with three experts on AI from other institutions, will speak on their research and how it relates to the center’s theme for the year.
Amy Weiss, Assistant Professor of Judaic Studies and History, proposed the topic “AI in Action: The Future of Humans” and is teaching the Humanities Center’s year-long seminar on this theme.
Tuesday, Feb. 10
Sonja Drimmer, Associate Professor of Art History at UMass-Amherst, will talk on “A Grand Larceny: How the AI Industry Steals Our Past to Rob Our Future.” Here, she will discuss how universities and museums have partnered with commercial technology firms like Google, Microsoft, and Meta, which have promised that their AI products will enhance both historical research and accessibility to historical collections. Her talk responds to the question of why universities and museums would work with companies whose products are in many ways obstructive to the mission to educate students and the public at large about history.
Monday, Feb.16
Lillian Kamal, Associate Professor of Economics and Humanities Center Faculty Fellow, will present on “Connecting with Consumers: The Future of AI in Marketing.” Here, she will explore the present realities and future potential of AI in marketing while addressing issues such as the ways in which AI has influenced how business marketing operates and connects with consumers; the roles humans have in AI marketing communication; and how we can harness AI to build creative, inclusive and responsible marketing for the consumers of the future.
Monday, Feb. 23
Dakota Nanton, Assistant Professor of Cinema and Humanities Center Faculty Fellow, will present on “Artificial Imagination: Filmmaking in the Age of AI.” In a discussion of how AI is both challenging and enhancing the future of filmmaking, Professor Nanton will examine the technological capabilities of AI, the creative opportunities it offers, and the ethical dilemmas it raises. Drawing on his own professional training and research in AI filmmaking, the lecture will aim to demystify current AI tools and foster critical conversation around their implications for media creation, cultural representation, and artistic ownership.
Monday, March 2
Sarah Senk, Professor of English, and Taiyo Inoue, Professor of Mathematics (both at California Polytechnic University), will speak on "Thinking Critically with AI." Professors Senk and Inoue host the podcast "My Robot Teacher" which explores the big questions surrounding AI in academia, from its practical applications in the classroom to its profound impact on what it means to be a student and an education in a time of rapid technological change in higher education.
Monday, April 13
Brian Wells, Associate Professor of Physics and Humanities Center Faculty Fellow, will present on “Beyond Human Design: AI-Driven Innovation in Metamaterials and Space Communication Systems.” In this talk, Professor Wells will explore how AI is transforming the design processes and performance outcomes of antenna systems and metamaterials used in deep-space communication and exploration technologies. In addition, he will examine broader ethical implications of AI in scientific research regarding authorship, the “flattening” of human expertise, and the evolving role of scientists.
The Humanities Center aims to provide greater visibility for the humanities at the University of Hartford and to furnish venues for interdisciplinary exchanges across the humanities and the arts, sciences, technology, media, music, psychology, film, philosophy, history, and literature. For more information, contact Director Nicholas Ealy at ealy@hartford.edu, or visit our webpage.