Catholic Institution Establishes AI Research Center, Taylor Black from Microsoft Takes the Lead
The Catholic University of America has announced the appointment of Taylor Black as the founding director of a new interdisciplinary institute focusing on artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies.
According to Black, a deacon candidate for the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Phoenix and a regular visitor to The Catholic University of America's campus, the Catholic Church can influence how technology affects human flourishing due to its members being shareholders and sitting on the boards of technology companies.
The institute, yet to be named, will explore various aspects of AI, including its potential use in service of the university, the need for the university model to adapt to AI, and its impact on grading, being a student, and how one learns.
One of the key objectives of the institute is to bring together faculty from across disciplines for collaboration and engage in global partnerships with other universities and outside organizations. The institute will also aim to help new graduates understand how to utilize AI in a manner that promotes human flourishing and take advantage of its benefits when used well and intelligently.
The Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, a partner institution, collaborates with organizations such as educational publishers Klett, online education platforms like Bettermarks, and companies like TITANOM to develop and implement AI-supported adaptive learning platforms in education, including foreign language teaching. They are also part of a broader international and interdisciplinary editorial board and research network that engages with theological and ethical aspects of AI.
Black sees three main thrusts for the institute: helping new graduates understand AI, enriching the university's understanding of AI's impact on various disciplines, and exploring how AI can be used to adapt the university model to its profound nature. He also believes that there has never been a real tension between faith and reason.
The AI degrees offered by Catholic University will blend the Catholic intellectual tradition with every facet of study. The university has launched new undergraduate and graduate AI programs this fall, incorporating both ethics and interdisciplinary problem-solving.
Black does not see AI as a threat to humanity, but rather as a tool that can be used for good or ill, depending on its programmers and developers. He thinks there will be a transition period during the AI revolution, with old jobs changing and new jobs not yet figured out.
The institute's work may lead to the development of new economic models for the university, not just for The Catholic University but for universities across the United States. This article is written by Kimberley Heatherington from Virginia.
AI, according to Black, does not have a telos or final purpose of its own, and can only do what its programmers and developers ask it to do. The institute also aims to bring all departments within the university together to understand AI's impact on the human person and various disciplines, and to develop a better understanding of how and where to use AI as well-formed humans.
This article covers topics such as Artificial Intelligence, Catholic Education, Catholic University, Catholic University of America, Faith and Reason, Faith and Science, Higher Education, Interview, Microsoft, and Technology.
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