Artificial Intelligence:
An Accessible Introduction to Machines that Imagine

Lecture Recording | Spring 2026

Step into the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence. In this engaging Humanities Seminars Program lecture, Professor Ken McAllister opens the black box of modern AI—tracing its history, explaining how today’s most widely used systems think and learn, and demonstrating the surprising ways they respond to the world.

From headlines to households, AI is reshaping how we communicate, create, and make decisions. Yet much of the technology remains unclear or misunderstood. This lecture offers a welcoming, beginner-friendly introduction that meets learners wherever they are—curious, skeptical, or simply seeking clarity.

Professor McAllister starts with the foundations: the early ideas that sparked the field, and the emergence of large language models. He then guides viewers through how generative systems like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini actually function—how they process prompts, predict language, learn patterns, and simulate reasoning.

Through a series of live demonstrations, he shows these tools in action, revealing both their remarkable abilities and their very real limitations.

Why Watch?

This recording invites you to step back into the lecture hall and explore one of today’s most transformative technologies at your own pace. You’ll gain a clearer vocabulary for understanding AI, see real-time demonstrations of popular tools, and come away with new insights into how these systems are reshaping the world.

About Professor Ken McAllister

Ken McAllister is Professor and Associate Dean of Research and Program Innovation in the College of Humanities at the University of Arizona. A specialist in digital humanities, rhetorics of technology, and computer game studies, he has authored numerous books and articles on media history and analysis. He also co-directs the Learning Games Initiative Research Archive, one of the world’s largest publicly accessible collections of computer games and related materials.

Keep Your Journey Going

Artificial intelligence reminds us that there is always more to ask, learn, and explore. Each new tool, idea, or discovery opens the door to another question—and another opportunity for insight.

Never Stop Exploring—discover your next learning adventure with HSP.
Visit hsp.arizona.edu/current-courses to explore upcoming courses and events.

Support the Humanities Seminars Program

If you found inspiration in this lecture, you are not alone. For more than 40 years, the Humanities Seminars Program has brought world-class scholars and curious minds together to explore big ideas, share meaningful conversations, and keep lifelong learning alive. Programs like this lecture and our full schedule of courses are made possible thanks to the generosity of those who believe in the power of discovery. With your support, HSP can continue to offer engaging lectures, hybrid access for learners everywhere, and the kind of unique intellectual community that so many of us treasure.

Your gift ensures that the joy of learning endures—for you, for your peers, and for future generations.

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