In 2025, it’s almost impossible to go more than a day or two without hearing references to artificial intelligence, machine learning, or ChatGPT. Dive a bit deeper than headlines and other concepts emerge: large language models, generative AI, neural networks, predictive analytics, and artificial general intelligence. In this engaging and beginner-friendly lecture, Dr. Ken McAllister, a Professor of Public & Applied Humanities at the University of Arizona and a specialist in the history of computing, will briefly survey AI’s development, explain how today’s most popular AI systems function, and explore their significance through examples from the arts and humanities. A live demonstration of tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini will show how these systems respond to prompts and support everyday tasks.
Whether you’re curious, skeptical, or just trying to understand the headlines, this lecture will equip you with essential vocabulary, practical tips, and a better understanding of the machines that are reshaping our world. The event will conclude with time for audience Q&A.
