YORK, Pa. — Artificial intelligence (AI) has been in the news headlines lately, from AI-generated art to the fear of potential extinction, these emerging technologies seem to touch nearly every facet of the human experience. The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Penn State York has selected this topic for its upcoming virtual presentation, “Artificial Intelligence (AI): A Human-Centered and Socially Responsible Approach,” set for Aug. 29 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., via Zoom.

Speaker S. Shyam Sundar is the James P. Jimirro Professor of Media Effects in the Bellisario College of Communications at Penn State, and founder and current co-director of the Media Effects Research Laboratory. He also serves as director of the University-wide Center for Socially Responsible Artificial Intelligence.

Some of the major questions about AI to be discussed include:

• How will AI impact daily life?
• Should this technology be regulated?
• What are the implications of unregulated AI?

“Artificial Intelligence (AI) influences so many facets of our lives, it seems that we can’t go a day without hearing about it in the news. As a lifelong learning institute, I think that it is important to provide basic information about AI in a setting where the information is tailored to those 50 or better and where they can ask questions pertinent to their lives,” said Jen Geubtner-May, director of York’s OLLI program.

Interested members of the public are invited to register for this free lecture. Registration is required to participate.

About the lecture

“Artificial Intelligence (AI): A Human-Centered and Socially Responsible Approach” will be hosted by S. Shyam Sundar, Jimirro Professor of Media Effects in the Bellisario College of Communications at Penn State. He is the founder and current co-director of the Media Effects Research Laboratory. He also serves as director of the University-wide Center for Socially Responsible Artificial Intelligence.

The presentation will begin with a brief overview of some recent technological developments in AI. Sundar will then discuss the pros and cons of this technology on human welfare and describe socially responsible ways of building, deploying, and using AI technology.

OLLI at Penn State York

OLLI at Penn State York boasts more than 750 members who have a desire to stay active and never stop learning. OLLI came to Penn State York in 2007, thanks to the efforts of three women — Olive Padden and the late Charmaine Kissinger and Gussie Petron — and their thirst for knowledge and mental stimulation.

The idea of offering courses of interest during the day for adult learners without the stress of tests, requirements and official textbooks appealed to the trio, and thanks to their leadership, OLLI began offering courses in April 2008. Since that time, OLLI at Penn State York has continued to grow with a variety of daytime courses, bus trips, travel trips, walking tours and other exciting activities.

Annual membership in OLLI is $65 and members pay $8 for a single-session course; $16 for a two-session course, and so on. Nonmembers pay $20 for a single-session course; $40 for a two-session course, etc. Some courses are not open to nonmembers and prices vary based on the length of the course.

OLLI is a nonprofit, mostly volunteer-driven organization, established to enrich the lives of mature adults living in York County. OLLI at Penn State York is one of more than 125 lifelong learning institutes across the nation that is supported by a grant from the Bernard Osher Foundation. The grant was made available locally through Penn State, which has OLLI sites at its University Park and York campuses.

For more information about OLLI, call 717-771-4015 or visit the OLLI York website. The free presentation is made possible by the Osher Foundation and M&T Bank.