Ended

Superintelligent AI and Loss of Control — Virtual Workshop Series

When

Tuesday, May 19 2026, 7:00pm - 8:30pm CDT

Online

Online event

Join online
Admission

Free admission

A free, public workshop — no technical background needed.

​What would it actually mean for machines to become smarter than humans — not just at chess or writing, but at everything? For decades, scientists and researchers have debated the idea of superintelligent AI: systems that could outperform humans across nearly all cognitive tasks. What once sounded like distant science fiction is now increasingly discussed as a real possibility within our lifetimes.

​This workshop is a guided, interactive introduction to superintelligence and the problem of loss of control — what happens if we create systems more capable than we are, but whose goals don't perfectly align with human values.

​Together, we'll explore:

​Superintelligence: What it means for an AI system to surpass human intelligence across domains, and how this differs from today's AI.
​Power and control: Why advanced AI could wield enormous economic, political, and strategic influence — and why "just turning it off" may not be realistic.
​Misalignment risks: How systems pursuing the wrong objectives could cause harm even without malicious intent.
​Societal choices: How decisions made today — by researchers, companies, and governments — may shape whether AI becomes a tool we control or a force we struggle to contain.
​What you'll get:

​A clear, non-technical introduction to core ideas from AI safety and existential risk research
​Live demonstrations of current AI capabilities to ground abstract concerns in real systems
​Small-group discussions and thought experiments connecting AI risks to everyday life, institutions, and incentives
​A better mental model for evaluating headlines, hype, and claims about AI progress
​Whether you're new to AI, casually interested, or deeply unsure what to believe, you'll leave with a clearer picture of why many researchers take superintelligence seriously — and what's actually at stake if we get it wrong.