Our Tech, AI and Society Dialogues 

Anthropos Technicus 
(ἄνθρωπος τεχνικός) 

Event Details

Date: Thursday, April 17th 2025
Hours: 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM
Location: McGill Downtown Campus, Trottier Building,  room 2110. Please refer to maps here.

This event is open to the public. Please scroll down to secure your seat.

A shared resources site for Anthropos Technicus readings and other resources has been set up on the Discord app at https://discord.gg/huCCw5CR3C. Please join us!!

Series Description 

This series will delve into the ethical and societal implications of artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies that call into question conventional distinctions between human beings and machines. By exploring thought-provoking books and films, we aim to foster engaging discussions and critical thought about the impact of technology on our lives. Each session will focus on a specific work, using it as a springboard to discuss contemporary issues and concerns. 

Session 3: Am I Literate? Redefining Literacy in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

Overview: We are pleased to announce that Kate Arthur, author of Am I Literate? Redefining Literacy in the Age of Artificial Intelligence, will join our upcoming Anthropos Technicus discussion meeting on Thursday, April 17th 2025, to present her book. 

Am I Literate? is a compelling memoir that takes readers on a fascinating journey exploring the evolving role of literacy in society, particularly in the context of computing and artificial intelligence. Dr. Sasha Luccioni, an AI Ethics & Climate researcher, praises the work, stating: “Kate’s book takes readers on a fascinating journey through the role of literacy in society, exploring traditional literacy, computing literacy, and AI literacy, and their impact on her life and generations of her family. It sheds light on the often-overlooked role of education in preparing citizens for times of massive disruption, emphasizing the importance of understanding how innovation, especially artificial intelligence, impacts people and the planet.”

Drawing on her personal and family history, Arthur delves into these different facets of literacy, highlighting their influence across generations. The book illuminates the critical role of education in equipping individuals for a world increasingly shaped by technological disruption, underscoring the need to understand how innovation—particularly artificial intelligence—affects both people and the planet. Arthur argues for a redefinition of literacy, one that encompasses the skills and knowledge required to navigate the age of AI, empowering individuals to create, communicate, and interpret information in meaningful ways. 

Join us to hear Kate Arthur share her insightful perspectives on literacy in the age of AI and its implications for society. Note that our discussion series features a dialectician who will provide sufficient context to spark dialogue. Prior reading is recommended but not required. To get an electronic copy of the book, please visit her website. Physical copies will be available for order at the meeting.

This session is open to all!

Our Dialecticians:

Dr. Sue Laver  

Inaugural director of the McGill Writing Centre and former SCS Associate Dean, Academic and Faculty Affairs, Sue is a Frankenstein devotee. Her interest in Frankenstein began when she first watched her now longstanding favourite film Blade Runner upon its release in 1982. A lecturer for many years in McGill’s Department of English, Sue has guided hundreds of students through Frankenstein’s philosophical complexities and its afterlife in popular culture, with emphasis on the metaphysical and ethical status of the Monster and its technological descendants. 

Mr Nabil Beitinjaneh

Business Strategist and AI/ML/Analytics Expert. Faculty Lecturer @ the McGill School of Continuing Studies, focused on adult learners who want to upskill, guiding learners on their journey to become AI-savvy change-makers. Nabil is engaged in leadership, strategy and organizational development through events, training, and his service with non-for-profit organizations. He is an Ambassador for TechAide which supports Centraide of Greater Montreal and the president of Le centre culturel syrien.

This event is a collaboration between the McGill School of Continuing Studies,  the McGill Computational and Data Systems Initiative and the McGill Collaborative for AI & Society.