AI Summit

Will AI End Humanity? Risk, Reality, and the Choices Ahead

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.

Thursday, October 29, 2026 • 1:00–5:00 p.m.
University Hall, Alexander G. Ruthven Building
1109 Geddes Ave., Ann Arbor, MI 48109

Register to Attend

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.

Past AI Summit Events

Navigation: Event Schedule • AI Topics • Speakers & Panelists

The U-M AI Summit event, “Everything That Is Wrong About AI: A Critical Look at Challenges & Opportunities,” was a half-day event on April 16, 2026, convened by the Office of the VPIT-CIO and Information and Technology Services (ITS), in partnership with the Provost’s Office. The summit brought together a multidisciplinary group of faculty and students to explore key issues in artificial intelligence, with a special focus on fostering open, candid conversations about AI’s challenges and opportunities.

Event Schedule

AI Topics & Definitions

These topics were discussed in group exercises during the April 16, 2026 summit.

AI’s Environmental and Energy Impact
AI systems require significant energy, water, and computing resources. As adoption accelerates across research, industry, and everyday tools, so do questions about sustainability. How should institutions like ours balance innovation with environmental responsibility, and what role should universities play in shaping more efficient, responsible AI?
AI Data Centers and Local Communities
The growth of AI is driving rapid expansion of data centers. These facilities place new demands on power grids, water supplies, and land use, often affecting surrounding communities. This raises questions about transparency, local impact, and who bears the cost. What responsibility do universities, researchers, and industry partners have in these decisions?
AI and the Complexities of Human-Centric AI
AI systems are increasingly designed to support and center human needs, yet they often recommend, guide, or act on behalf of users in ways that are not always visible or fully understood. As these systems become more capable, questions emerge about agency, transparency, and control. In research, education, and daily life, how do we design AI that truly serves people while preserving autonomy, accountability, and informed decision-making?
AI and the Future of Humanity
AI is beginning to shape how we think, learn, and connect. While it can expand access to knowledge and support, it also raises deeper concerns about dependency, loss of human agency, and long-term societal impact. Some researchers now frame these questions in existential terms, asking whether increasingly powerful AI systems could challenge human control, reshape decision-making at scale, or fundamentally alter what it means to be human. How should we think about these risks, and what responsibility do we have to address them now?
When AI Gets It Wrong
AI systems can produce confident but incorrect outputs, reinforce bias, and enable misinformation at scale. In academic, research, and public contexts, these failures can carry real consequences. How should we think about trust, verification, and responsibility when AI-generated information is increasingly part of everyday work?
AI in Teaching and Learning
AI is quickly becoming part of the classroom, from tutoring tools to content generation. But emerging “agentic” tools like Einstein AI raise serious concerns, with the ability to complete assignments and submit work on a student’s behalf. These systems can bypass the learning process entirely, undermining critical thinking, skill development, and academic integrity. How should educators adapt to ensure AI enhances learning rather than replacing it?
AI’s Impact on Human Creativity
AI can now generate writing, art, music, and design, reshaping creative and professional fields. For universities and creative communities, this raises questions about authorship, originality, and value. Where should we draw the line between AI as a tool and AI as a substitute for human ingenuity?
AI’s Impact on Jobs and Economy
AI is transforming the workforce by automating tasks, creating new opportunities, and shifting skill demands. At the same time, it may deepen economic divides if the benefits are unevenly distributed. What role should institutions like U-M play in preparing students and society for these changes?

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Speakers & Panelists

Introductory Speaker

Ravi Pendse, PhD
Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer
Dr. Pendse serves as the Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer at the University of Michigan. He is an executive officer of the university and provides university-wide leadership and strategic direction for information technology. He is also a Professor in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and a special advisor to the President of the University of Michigan for India.

Dr. Pendse has secured more than $21 million in external research grants, developed and taught courses in the areas of computer architecture, networking, and cybersecurity, earned several teaching awards, and published numerous scholarly articles co-authored with students. His research interests include the internet of things, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and the future of work. Dr. Pendse holds a B.S. in electronics and communication engineering from Osmania University in Hyderabad (India). He received his M.S. and Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Wichita State University. He serves as a trustee of the Kansas Health Science University.

Faculty Panel: Navigating Complexities, Opportunities and Obstacles

Neel Sukhatme (Moderator)
David A. Breach Dean of Law
Neel U. Sukhatme is the 19th dean of the University of Michigan Law School. He is the first externally recruited dean in the law school’s 166-year history. Sukhatme joined Michigan Law from Georgetown University Law Center, where he served as Associate Dean for Research and Academic Programs, Anne Fleming Research Professor, Professor of Law, and Co-Director of the Georgetown Law and Economics Workshop series. He was awarded an Andrew Carnegie Fellowship in 2021, and he previously served as the Thomas Alva Edison Visiting Scholar at the US Patent and Trademark Office. In addition to his many accomplishments, Sukhatme has published articles in the Harvard Law Review, Duke Law Journal, American Law and Economics Review, and Journal of Empirical Legal Studies, among many others. His current research focuses on empirical topics related to crime, AI and the law, and innovation and patent law. He teaches Property, Patent Law, Advanced Corporate Finance: Quantitative Analysis and Valuation, and Empirical Analysis for Lawyers and Policymakers. Sukhatme is also the co-founder of Free Our Vote, a nonpartisan, data-driven nonprofit focused on expanding voting rights, and Spindrop, an AI music startup.

Amy Cohn
Professor of Industrial and Operations Engineering
Amy Cohn is a Thurnau Professor in the College of Engineering’s Department of Industrial and Operations Engineering. Her primary research focus is on operational improvements to healthcare delivery. She is the Faculty Director for the Center for Healthcare Engineering and Patient Safety (CHEPS) and the Chief Transformation Officer for Michigan Medicine. Her interests in AI are primarily focused on educational impact and effective use in healthcare delivery.

Margaret Dobson, MD
Clinical Associate Professor of Family Medicine, Associate Chair of Family Medicine
Meg (Margaret) Dobson, MD, is a family physician, executive leader, trained leadership coach, medical educator and Associate Professor at the University of Michigan Medical School. She partners across medicine, public health, and tech-enabled teams to strengthen access, quality, and equity in primary care. She believes healthy communities depend on a healthy health care ecosystem, with well-resourced primary care as its foundation. Some of these resources include targeted AI interventions. She also serves as Associate Chief of Staff at University Hospital and Associate Chair for Educational Programs in the Department of Family Medicine; she was interim chair (2022–2023). Clinically, she maintains a longitudinal practice at the Chelsea Health Center, provides home-based care, and teaches residents in Chelsea and Ypsilanti. Skeptical of AI claims but attentive to its potential, she guides complex change with a steady, values-driven focus on learners, professionalism, and well-being.

Todd Hollon, MD
Research Professor of Neurosurgery
Todd Hollon, MD, is a neurosurgeon-scientist and Assistant Professor at the University of Michigan, with appointments in Neurosurgery, Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, and Computer Science. He leads the Machine Learning in Neurosurgery Lab, where his research focuses on developing artificial intelligence methods for neuroimaging, intelligent histology, and precision neurosurgery. His work aims to translate foundation models and machine learning into tools that improve diagnosis, surgical decision-making, and patient care.

Barbara McQuade
Professor from Practice / Michigan Law
Barbara McQuade is a professor from practice at the University of Michigan Law School, where she teaches courses in criminal law, national security, and data privacy. She is also a legal analyst for MSNOW, a co-host of the podcast #SistersInLaw, and author of the New York Times bestselling book, Attack from Within: How Disinformation is Sabotaging America. Ms. McQuade previously served as the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan.

Derek Peterson
Associate Chair of African History and Chair of SACUA
Derek Peterson is Chair of the Faculty Senate and a professor of History and African Studies here at U-M. He’s the author or editor of ten books, most recently A Popular History of Idi Amin’s Uganda, which was published in 2025. Peterson was awarded a MacArthur ‘Genius’ Fellowship in 2017 for his work in preserving and digitizing endangered government archives in Uganda.

Kayte Spector-Bagdady
Research Professor of Bioethics and Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Professor Kayte Spector-Bagdady, JD, MBe, is the Wantz Professor of Bioethics at the University of Michigan Medical School. She is also the Director of Michigan Bioethics, which won the 2022 American Society for Bioethics & Humanities (ASBH) Cornerstone Award, and an Associate Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology. She is the former Associate Director of President Obama’s Bioethics Commission.

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Student Panel: The World We’re Inheriting

Jack Chen
Student, Computer Science
Jack Chen is a senior studying Computer Science Engineering at U-M. He is the vice president of the Michigan AI Safety Initiative, a student organization dedicated to understanding the effects and shaping the responsible development of AI as it becomes further immersed into human society.

Angelica Previero
Doctoral Student, Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology
Angelica Previero is a Ph.D. candidate in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology at the University of Michigan, trying to understand complex biological systems, and, occasionally, university administration. Throughout her career, she’s been fortunate to take on leadership roles that help make grad school a little less mysterious and a lot more humane. From national advocacy for graduate education to managing microgrants for students who need a hand, she cares about building structures that support people, not just projects. She sits on university committees where she represents 11,000+ graduate students. She doesn’t pretend to have all the answers, but prides herself on listening, asking questions, and pushing for thoughtful change.

Eric Veal Jr.
Student, Political Science & Secondary Education
Eric Veal Jr., a senior dual-degree candidate at the University of Michigan, is simultaneously pursuing degrees in Political Science and Secondary Education with a minor in Public Policy. He holds a pivotal leadership position as the current Student Body President, representing the interests of over 53,000 undergraduate and graduate students across the Ann Arbor campus. His institutional influence is further underscored by his appointment as one of two students on the Presidential Search Advisory Committee to the Board of Regents, where he helps guide the search for the next system-wide university president. Following graduation, he intends to forge a career dedicated to the critical nexus point between government and education policy.

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