Fright Night

Ghosts should have nothing to do with science. Yet since the Enlightenment scientists and philosophers have shown a mixture of fascination and scepticism towards the supernatural. When Scrooge first sees Marley’s ghost in A Christmas Carol, he treats it as the product of a stomach disorder: “There’s more of gravy than the grave about you!” Scrooge’s response reflects the scientific rationalism of the time. Increasingly, however, spectres were seen as part of the natural order of things. This talk will consider whether contemporary culture believes ghosts are gravy or grave.

Artificial intelligence is often treated as either our saviour or an existential threat. AI offers transformative potential for improving higher education, yet also raises complex ethical and practical questions. We will explore the complexities of novel human-machine partnerships that combine the strengths of human judgment and data-driven insights. Ultimately, the adoption of AI marks the beginning of new processes where human-machine coalitions drive transformative change in higher education. Together we'll decide, is AI a threat or our saviour?