Join a timely conversation with Karen Hao, award-winning journalist and author of Inside the Empire of AI. In this virtual event, Hao will explore the rapid rise of artificial intelligence, the social, political, and ethical questions surrounding AI development today, and the questions posed in her work – Will AI produce broad-based societal benefit for all? Or return us to an age of empire? The path forward is in our hands.
 

Whether you’re excited about AI, cautious about it, or just trying to understand the hype, this event offers an accessible look at one of today’s biggest technological shifts.

                                                

Karen Hao is the instant New York Times bestselling author of Empire of AI and named one of the most influential people in AI by Time. She is lead designer of the Pulitzer Center’s AI Spotlight series as well as co-host of BBC’s podcast, The Interface. The first journalist to ever profile OpenAI, Hao was formerly a reporter for The Wall Street Journal, covering American and Chinese tech companies, and a senior editor for AI at MIT Technology Review. Her work has been cited by Congress, featured in university curriculums, and remade into museum exhibits.  

Moderator Reanna Esmail, Lead Librarian for Instruction at Cornell University and a prominent voice in critical digital pedagogy and intellectual freedom, will join Karen Hao in conversation.

This event will occur via Zoom on Thursday, September 17, @ 7 PM. The event is free on Zoom and open to the public, but registration is required.  

 

 

 Patron FAQ

What platform is used for the live event and registration?

• Events take place on Zoom.

Will this program be recorded?

• Yes. Event recordings will be accessible to registered attendees for a limited time, typically up to 30 days, in accordance with contractual agreements with the speakers. 

Where will the recording be posted?

• On YouTube. The link will be emailed to Zoom registrants (those who attended the live event and those who did not). The email will come directly from Zoom and will include the final date to view the recording.

When will the recording be posted?

• Within 5 days of the program (pending actual post-production time). It will be viewable typically up to 30 days from the post date.
   

Can I share the video with my patrons after the event?

• Yes, the event recording links will be made available via the newsletter and also sent directly to each registrant. Member libraries may share these with their library community only. 

Will the event be captioned?

• Yes

Who is the audience for this event?

• Adults

What if someone needs accommodations?

• American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation and Closed Captioning are provided for all events by default—no special request needed.

Are attendees not allowed to record the event or use AI-based tools (such as notetakers, summarizers, or transcription services)?

• Attendees are NOT permitted to use AI-based tools (such as notetakers, summarizers, or transcription services) or to record the event in any form. If an ILA-ILP moderator observes the use of these tools during a session, attendees will be immediately removed from the event. Repeated violations will result in a temporary or permanent ban from attending future events.
   

What if a patron can’t find/says they never received their Zoom registration link?

• After completing registration on Zoom, patrons need to allow up to two business days for the registration to be approved. Once approved, registrants will receive an email confirmation with the link to join the event. We recommend that patrons check their spam/junk mail folders if they do not receive a confirmation within two business days
   
• The event link is emailed from Zoom with the subject heading related to the event they are registering for.