Hi, it’s Vanessa, your ENLIGHTENMENT host.

Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming part of our lives —shaping how we work, communicate, and make decisions. But as I see AI getting more powerful around me, I wonder : How should we humans feel about AI? And perhaps even more intriguingly, how might AI one day feel about us?

Join me for a thought-provoking Philosophy Café with Garret Merriam, philosophy professor at Sacramento State, where we’ll explore the ethical, emotional, and societal questions raised by A.I.. Together we’ll discuss topics such as autonomous weapons, sex robots, A.I. systems designed to manipulate human emotions, and the complex challenge of programming machines to be moral.

This informal, interactive conversation welcomes anyone curious about the philosophical implications of AI—no background in philosophy is required. Bring your ideas, questions, and curiosity (nothing is too dumb or too small to ask) as we explore how humanity shares a future with intelligent machines.

Tickets are $10 general admission, $5 for students. I’ll bring some drinks and snacks, and please feel free to BYO.

Sign up to attend by registering at our Eventbrite link here.