Will AI End Humanity? Risk, Reality, and the Choices Ahead
Thursday, October 29, 2026 • 1–5 p.m.
University Hall, Alexander G. Ruthven Building
1109 Geddes Ave., Ann Arbor, MI 48109
Predictions about artificial intelligence range from extraordinary advances in health, science, and education to widespread job displacement, diminished human agency, and even threats to humanity itself. Which concerns demand urgent attention? Which claims run ahead of the evidence? And where do people have the power to shape what comes next?
This latest event in the University of Michigan AI Summit Series will bring together scholars and experts with sharply different perspectives for a candid discussion of AI’s immediate and long-term risks, its potential benefits, and the responsibilities of universities, governments, technology companies, and individuals.
Panelists will examine the strongest arguments on multiple sides, including what increasingly powerful foundational models can and cannot do, who controls the data on which AI depends, and how data sovereignty should inform our decisions. They will consider how society can respond without becoming complacent or giving in to panic. The goal is not to predict an inevitable future, but to explore the choices needed to advance human-centered AI while keeping people, public purpose, and trust at the center of its development and use.
The event is open to U-M students, faculty, and staff. Seating is limited to 120 people, and an RSVP is required. Refreshments will be provided. More details to come soon.