Community Lecture Series

"Communicating with Artificial Intelligence"

Presenter: Sean Barnette
Reception: 5:30 p.m.
Presentation: 6:00 p.m.

AI seems to be everywhere these days, but how should we think about it? Should we embrace it or fear it? In this talk, we’ll look closely at several interactive AI simulators, particularly on social media, and explore what AI can show us about how language works in the first place, where meaning comes from, and ultimately about why we interact with other people.

Dr. Sean Barnette is a Professor of English and assistant director of the Honors College at Lander University. He holds an M.A. in Linguistics from the University of South Carolina, and a Ph.D. in Rhetoric from the University of Tennessee.

Dr. Walter Iriarte is an Assistant Professor of Media and Communication at Lander University. He earned his Ph.D. in Rhetorics, Communication, and Information Design from Clemson University. Dr. Iriarte’s research interests include studying the behavioral visual patterns of drone video and pilots as well as communication practices in social media. Dr. Iriarte has also produced films for national film competitions and continues to create experimental projects using emerging media technologies.