The University of Michigan will host a new artificial intelligence summit April 16, inviting members of the campus and broader community to take part in a timely conversation about AI’s impact and future.
The event is open to the public, but participation is limited to 120 attendees.
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“Everything That Is Wrong About AI: A Critical Look at Challenges & Opportunities” will take place from 12:30-5 p.m. in University Hall at the Ruthven Building on the Ann Arbor campus.
The summit is part of the university’s ongoing AI dialogue, one that spans multiple schools, colleges and disciplines. Information and Technology Services, in partnership with the Provost’s Office, organized the event.
The summit will feature a faculty panel focused on open, candid conversations about artificial intelligence, including its risks, limitations and unintended consequences, alongside its potential to drive innovation across society, research and education.
In addition, the program includes interactive group exercises, student perspectives on the future they are inheriting, and opportunities for informal discussion during a closing reception.
The faculty panel will be moderated by Neel Sukhatme, the David A. Breach Dean of Law and professor of law at the Law School, whose work focuses on corporate law, financial regulation and the intersection of law and technology.
The featured faculty panelists include:
- Derek Peterson, chair of the Faculty Senate, Senate Assembly and Senate Advisory Committee on University Affairs, and the Ali Mazrui Collegiate Professor of History and African Studies, LSA.
- Barbara McQuade, professor from practice, Law School, former U.S. attorney, popular podcaster and best-selling author.
- Kayte Spector-Bagdady, the George E. Wantz Research Professor of Bioethics and assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology, Medical School, and a leading scholar in research ethics.
They will be joined by:
- Todd Hollon, the Joseph R Novello M.D. and Alfredo Quinones-Hinojosa M.D. Research Professor of Neurosurgery and assistant professor of neurosurgery, Medical School, and a physician-scientist advancing the use of AI in clinical decision-making.
- Margaret Dobson, clinical associate professor of family medicine and associate chair in the Department of Family Medicine in the Medical School, whose work focuses on primary care, medical education, and workforce development.
- Amy Cohn, Arthur F. Thurnau Professor; professor of industrial and operations engineering, College of Engineering; professor of health management and policy, School of Public Health; chief transformation officer of Michigan Medicine; and an expert in optimization, health care systems and public policy.
Ravi Pendse, vice president for information technology and chief information officer, said the summit is designed to create space for thoughtful, inclusive dialogue at a critical inflection point for AI.
“Artificial intelligence is shaping nearly every aspect of our work and our lives, and it is essential that we approach it with both curiosity and care,” Pendse said. “We organized this summit to bring together a wide range of perspectives from across our community so that we can have honest, practical conversations about where AI is today and where it is headed.
“That includes recognizing both the opportunities it creates and the challenges it presents, so we can better understand its impact and prepare responsibly for the future we are building together.”
Organizers emphasize that the summit is not focused solely on technical advancements, but on the broader implications of AI, including ethical concerns, governance challenges and long-term societal impact. The goal is to create space for honest dialogue about the need for human-centered AI, the real risks and the meaningful opportunities AI presents, and how the university community can navigate this landscape responsibly.
“Universities are among the few places built to take on questions that are technically complex, socially consequential and deeply contested,” said Laurie McCauley, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. “Artificial intelligence is exactly that kind of challenge. At Michigan, we believe the right response is to bring the hardest questions into conversation across disciplines, perspectives and lived experience.
“This summit reflects our commitment to examining the profound implications of AI in every context with the seriousness the moment requires.”
Registration is available online, and space is expected to fill quickly due to the limited capacity.
Eva Hedwig Schueler
And will this summit take on the “technically complex, socially consequential and deeply contested” questions regarding the “super computer” data center the University of Michigan is planning to build in Ypsilanti Township despite the community giving repeated indications that this is not something they want?