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Course Description

The AI Safety Awareness Series is a periodic opportunity to connect with our community and discuss some of the most pressing issues in technology. Through accessible presentations, expert perspectives, and facilitated discussion, each session explores a timely topic related to artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, their societal impacts, and the choices we face as these technologies continue to develop.

Because each session can focus on a different issue, the series is designed to evolve over time and provide an ongoing forum for learning, dialogue, and community engagement.

Learner Outcomes

Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of a section in the AI Safety Awareness Series, participants will be able to:

  1. Describe key concepts, trends, and emerging developments related to artificial intelligence and technology.
  2. Identify potential benefits, risks, and societal impacts associated with increasingly capable AI systems.
  3. Examine differing perspectives and evidence related to AI safety, ethics, governance, and responsible technology development.
  4. Discuss how emerging technologies may affect individuals, workplaces, institutions, and communities.
  5. Evaluate possible approaches for addressing technology-related risks while supporting beneficial innovation.
  6. Identify opportunities for continued learning, dialogue, and participation in shaping the responsible use and development of technology.

Prerequisites

Open to the Entire Campus Community
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Enroll Now - Select a section to enroll in

Type
In-Person
Days
Th
Time
12:00PM to 1:30PM
Dates
Oct 22, 2026
Schedule and Location
View Details
Contact Hours
1.5
Location
Course Fee(s)
Tuition non-credit $0.00
CEUs
0.15 CEUs

Section Notes

The Catastrophic Risks of AI, and a Safer Path

Consider the risks associated with increasingly capable and autonomous AI systems and the importance of constructive engagement rather than fatalism.

If AI’s development continues at the current rate, we might be headed toward extremely capable AI systems that we struggle to control. Yoshua Bengio, often hailed as the “Godfather of AI,” has discussed this at length—join us for a short video in which we hear his arguments and discuss the future we may be heading toward.

The session will explore how increasingly capable and autonomous AI systems could affect individuals and society, why simply opting out may not be realistic, and what constructive action can look like. Rather than focusing only on worst-case scenarios, the discussion emphasizes Bengio’s idea of being a “doer, not a doomer”—thinking about practical ways people can help steer AI toward safer outcomes.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

  • A clearer view of where AI may be headed—and why “just opting out” may not be enough
  • How growing capability and autonomy in AI agents may affect us
  • How to be a “doer, not a doomer”—and consider tangible ways the public can help steer AI toward a good outcome

Note: This course is offered In collaboration with the Windward Community College AI Committee and Career & Community Education.

Type
In-Person
Days
Th
Time
12:00PM to 1:30PM
Dates
Oct 29, 2026
Schedule and Location
View Details
Contact Hours
1.5
Location
Course Fee(s)
Tuition non-credit $0.00
CEUs
0.15 CEUs

Section Notes

10 Reasons to Ignore AI Safety

Examine common arguments for dismissing AI safety concerns and consider how developments since the emergence of modern generative AI have changed the conversation.

When the topic of AI safety comes up, it’s easy to dismiss the concerns: it’s science fiction, it’s too far off, or we can just turn it off if something goes wrong. In this session, we’ll watch a short video by AI safety researcher and science communicator Rob Miles that examines ten common reasons people give for ignoring AI safety—and responds to each one.

After the video, we’ll take a closer look at which arguments still hold up, which ones may have changed since the rise of ChatGPT and modern AI systems, and what unresolved questions remain. The goal is not to push everyone toward the same conclusion, but to create space for thoughtful discussion, skepticism, and critical reflection.

Here’s what you’ll explore:

  • Ten common arguments people use to dismiss AI safety concerns
  • The AI alignment problem and why highly capable systems may not always do what we actually intend
  • Why “we’ll just turn it off” may be more complicated than it sounds
  • How the AI landscape has changed since 2019—and what that means for the arguments today
  • What these questions could mean for our community and future

Note: This course is offered In collaboration with the Windward Community College AI Committee and Career & Community Education.

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