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Forums – Regular meetings – meet at 6:30 at the Panera Bread Co. community room (875 Bethel Road). Also be sure to check out – and like –  “Columbus Futurists” on Facebook!

Forum: June 22, 2017

Topic: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Higher Education

There are very serious people today imagining and considering the implications of a “world without work,” with algorithms performing cognitive tasks once thought only humans could perform. It is commonplace in our contemporary society to say that the purpose of higher education is to prepare young people for work. But if predictions of a world without work come to pass, then the linkage of higher education and job preparation would be torn apart. What will be “the primary purpose of higher education” when artificial intelligence has made human employment redundant?

Columbus Futurist David Staley will present three scenarios for the future of higher education under such conditions, and as a group we will imagine a scenario where the purpose of a university education is teaching students and AI to “think together.”

Some articles to consider:

• https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/innovations/wp/2017/05/31/is-ai-the-end-of-jobs-or-a-new-beginning/?utm_term=.74c6c6f5cdbe
• https://www.wired.com/2017/05/revamped-alphago-wins-first-game-chinese-go-grandmaster/ 
• http://www.newsweek.com/2016/12/09/robot-economy-artificial-intelligence-jobs-happy-ending-526467.html 

Another great discussion in an exciting agenda emerging for our meetings this year. Hope to see you in the 22nd!

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