U of M Media Lab Organizes Upcoming AI Ethics Lecture
For the first time since before the COVID-19 pandemic, the faculty of arts Media Lab is active again, returning to host events, workshops, and projects this academic year. Their grant-funded strategic initiative, Beyond the Prompt: Generative AI, Creativity and Responsibility, focuses on facilitating conversations about the novel impacts of technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) on academia and daily life.
The coming months will showcase a variety of guest lectures by prominent international artists creating artworks on the topic of AI. These interdisciplinary events aim to encourage collaboration and learning among members of different faculties at the U of M, incorporating perspectives from technology, fine arts, music, and engineering.
Importance of Critical Perspectives on AI
Media Lab director Monika Vrecar emphasized the need to address AI with “critical angles,” moving beyond practical concerns such as plagiarism. She advocates for discussions involving insights into the history of technology development and its implications for broader society.
Upcoming Events
The first event will link the history of AI with Cold War military projects. American visual artist Trevor Paglen will deliver a keynote titled The Lizard People: How UFOs, Magic, and Mind-Control Explain Visual Culture in the Age of AI on Jan. 15 at the Plug In Institute of Contemporary Art. Following this, Paglen will participate in a graduate seminar at U of M, discussing assigned readings.
Paglen is a conceptual artist whose work highlights modern surveillance infrastructure and related social issues such as privacy and power dynamics. His recent projects are influenced by the history of facial-recognition technology and the social implications of satellite technologies. He has previously integrated his work into fine art and film course materials at U of M.
Future Guest Lectures
Additional speakers include:
- Suzanne Kite, a Lakota performance artist and composer, discussing the intersections of AI and Indigenous knowledge systems on Jan. 31.
- Tega Brain, an Australian-American environmental engineer, addressing the automation of ecological data in early March.
- Misagh Azimi, an Iranian-German composer, presenting on music composition in late March, likely accompanied by a performance and a panel of philosophy professors.
These guest lectures are collaboratively funded by the Media Lab’s grant, the school of art, the faculty of architecture, and the Plug In ICA.
Challenges in AI Integration
Vrecar noted that many professors struggle with how to grade assignments and detect plagiarism in light of students increasingly using AI tools in their work. She stressed the urgency of having conversations about navigating this new landscape, acknowledging that banning AI use is not a feasible long-term solution.
Media Lab Facilities
The Media Lab is dedicated to providing faculty of arts students with audio-visual equipment, technological support, and film screenings. It hosted virtual workshops and in-person debates in collaboration with the faculty of education throughout fall 2025 as part of the Beyond the Prompt initiative. The space primarily serves film students but is available to any students with media-based assignments. Recently, the Media Lab added a podcast studio to enhance its offerings.
