Event Date
Can machines act naturally?
AI seems to be a disruptor right now, but can it ever fit into our existing ways of thinking and being? Join our panelists to discover different ways to align machines with our social and natural values, from care-based AI to biomimicry.
Panelists
Joe Dumit
Joe Dumit is a professor of anthropology and science and technology studies at UC Davis, where he co-leads the Center for AI and Experimental Futures. His research focuses on game design, immersive visualization, and the social dimensions of AI.
Christina Harvey
Christina Harvey leads the Biologically Informed Research and Design (BIRD) lab that studies biological flight with a focus on how, when, and why animals adjust their morphology in flight. She received her PhD in aerospace engineering from the University of Michigan and is an assistant professor at UC Davis.
Zhaodan Kong
Zhaodan Kong is an associate professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at UC Davis. He received his PhD in aerospace engineering from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, and his research interests include the interface of AI and humans, AI transparency, and human-machine systems.
Tanuja Mishra
Tanuja Mishra is a designer, artist, and researcher who works at the intersection of critical and speculative design and social practice. She investigates historical, cultural, and aesthetic implications of technology to imagine futures that are both aspirational and equitable. Her current research focuses on questioning machine intelligence and building AI on the values of care, trust, and interconnection.
Moderator: Eileen Campbell
Eileen Campbell is a Lead Science Writer at the Exploratorium. She has written and created exhibits on social science, solar eclipses, undersea sex, satellites, and many other topics for places including the Monterey Bay Aquarium and the New York Hall of Science. She’s currently helping to shape the Exploratorium’s 2025 summer show, Adventures in AI.
Hosted in partnership with UC Davis Grand Challenges