AI & Technology Week & OLLI Celebration of Excellence   

We are living through a moment of extraordinary transformation—one shaped by artificial intelligence, global connectivity, and rapid technological change. In this engaging keynote, ASU CIO Lev Gonick invites us to explore how we might navigate the opportunities and challenges of the AI era with curiosity, purpose, and wisdom. Drawing on decades of experience at the intersection of education, innovation, and public service, Lev will offer a big-picture perspective on where AI is taking us, why it matters, and how lifelong learners of all ages have a vital role to play. This talk sets the tone for a dynamic week of conversation and discovery.

Join us for an entire week of innovation and inspiration!

AI & Technology Week Bundle & Save! – $120 ($43 Savings) - This bundle is only available to the first 40 registrants! Package Includes:

• 108 | Navigating the AI Era: Wisdom, Wonder, & What Comes Next
• 109 | Life in a Sci-Fi Novel: Technology, Humanity, & Transformation
• 110 | The Human Element of War: Why Technology Can’t Eliminate Destruction
• 111 | The Paradox of GenAI: Smart, Drunk, Biased & Sycophantic
• 114 | Technology & the Changing Character of Irregular Warfare
• 115 | From Bookshelves to Breakthroughs: Inside Amazon's Innovation Engine
• 116 | Law & Governance of AI
• 117 | OLLI Celebration of Excellence & The Art of AI: Creativity, Storytelling, & the Human Touch

If you choose the bundle, please do not register for these courses individually.  This bundle does not include two workshops scheduled for the week (Class 112 and 113).  Please register for those separately if you want to attend them.  

Previous technology systems, such as the railroad and electrification, dramatically changed human, natural, and built systems at regional and global scales – but that’s nothing compared to what today’s rapid – and accelerating – evolution across the entire frontier of technology might do. Even today, AI writes music, novels, and Ph.D. dissertations, and creates fascinating paintings and videos from simple verbal commands. It is becoming impossible to know whether a picture, video, or voice is real or fake. That call from your mother might actually be from an AI, which could then use your voice to scam money from your friends and bank accounts. Meanwhile, many start-up companies are developing “brain chips” that could enable telepathy between humans, as well as metacognitive mixtures of AI and human cognition that may surpass the most gifted humans. Scientists are increasingly treating the human aging process as a curable disease, believing that our children may live healthy lives of 150 to 200 years – perhaps much longer. These are only a few examples in a future where our planet, and humans themselves, become design spaces subject to deliberate change in ways never before possible. The psychological, political, economic, and social implications are vast, but we are not helpless: there are ways to think about and prepare for this turbulent period of change.

As artificial intelligence and autonomous systems advance, many futurist technophiles predict a world where machines will fight wars for us, thereby reducing human suffering and political risk. Yet history and strategy suggest otherwise. Dr. Amos C. Fox argues that the increasing reliance on unmanned and autonomous systems may actually make future wars longer, more destructive, and less decisive. Drawing on his recent research on attrition and decision-making in war, Dr. Fox explains that when policymakers no longer bear the full political cost of losing soldiers, they may be less inclined to end conflicts quickly. Destroying a fleet of drones does not carry the same emotional or political weight as losing human lives. Thus, wars may extend into multiple “phases,” compounding destruction and exhausting national resources. This talk explores the limits of technology in changing human behavior and strategic decision-making. Ultimately, Dr. Fox contends that war remains a deeply human endeavor – shaped by will, emotion, and political purpose. Machines may characterize the battlefield, but much of what we know about war will remain.

Generative AI has entered our classrooms and conversations with remarkable speed – promising innovation, raising alarms, and sparking debates. But how should we make sense of tools that can be, as Dr. Punya Mishra puts it, smart, drunk, biased, and sycophantic all at once? In this thought-provoking session, Dr. Mishra explores the contradictions at the heart of GenAI in our daily lives. These tools dazzle us with intelligence yet stumble in unexpected and sometimes troubling ways. They generate brilliant insights alongside confident nonsense, amplify existing biases while claiming objectivity, and eagerly agree with us even when we’re wrong. Drawing on his deep expertise in educational technology, Dr. Mishra will unpack both the possibilities and pitfalls of working with these paradoxical systems. Through stories, insights, and provocations, this session invites participants to move beyond surface-level fascination or fear and develop a more nuanced understanding of AI’s role in our world. Whether you’re an educator, professional, lifelong learner, or simply curious about the AI revolution, you’ll explore what it means to navigate an age where AI is no longer science fiction but part of daily life – and how we can engage with these tools thoughtfully, critically, and creatively.

Join us for an engaging session at Arizona State University’s Artificial Intelligence Cloud Innovation Center. See firsthand how ASU students are using Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud technology to solve real community challenges. In this session, you’ll hear from the bright minds behind innovative public service projects and learn how artificial intelligence is making a difference in our community. Experience real-world examples of cloud technology in action and chat directly with students and program leaders. Perfect for anyone curious about how today’s technology is improving our daily lives and how students are preparing to enter the workforce – no technical background needed! A lunch break with provided lunch thanks to the generosity of the ASU Cloud Innovation Center will be provided for participants!

Curious about artificial intelligence and how it might fit into your everyday life? In this interactive session, you will explore what AI is, how it works, and how it can help you approach everyday tasks with more confidence and creativity. Using tools like ChatGPT, you will practice real-world applications such as writing messages, planning trips, organizing information, and exploring creative ideas. The session will focus on simple, approachable ways to use AI thoughtfully and responsibly in daily life. Please bring a laptop or iPad for guided hands-on practice and exploration. Participants are encouraged to create a free ChatGPT account before class to maximize the benefits of the hands-on activities.

While most discussions of modern conflict focus on tanks, drones, and great-power competition, the majority of today’s wars are irregular – struggles waged by states and non-state actors for power, influence, and legitimacy among populations. This session explores how rapidly advancing technologies – artificial intelligence, social media, cyber operations, and autonomous systems – are transforming the way such contests are resourced, fought, and won. Drawing on recent lessons from across the globe, Dr. Gleiman examines how these tools and trends empower both governments and insurgent movements to mobilize supporters, manipulate narratives, and compete for control, sometimes without firing a shot. He will also discuss how the Department of Defense and allied nations are rethinking doctrine and education to adapt to this evolving landscape of conflict. Participants will come away with a deeper understanding of how technology is reshaping not just warfare, but the very nature of political struggle in the 21st century.

From its humble beginnings as a bookseller in 1994, Amazon has transformed into one of the world’s most innovative enterprises. In this session, an Amazon senior leader and certified Culture of Innovation expert will reveal the deliberate strategies behind this remarkable growth. Discover the core principles and organizational systems that drive Amazon’s continued success, including its Leadership Principles and Day 1 culture. Through compelling insights and firsthand experiences, learn how Amazon consistently fosters innovation across its global operations.

Artificial intelligence holds almost unlimited potential benefits for individuals and society, but it also presents many risks. These risks include threats to safety, security, privacy, fairness, inclusiveness, autonomy, and democracy. This presentation will briefly discuss these risks and the need for governance. However, due to factors such as the “pacing problem,” traditional government regulation is incapable of keeping pace with AI and managing its risks. Two other systems will be needed to supplement – or even stand in for – government regulation in managing AI risks. The first system is comprehensive AI risk management frameworks promulgated by standard-setting organizations such as ISO, IEEE, and NIST. The incentives and pressures needed to encourage companies to align with such private standards will be explored. The second system is criminal and civil liability, and the dimensions, opportunities, and challenges of holding AI companies accountable for harms they inflict will be discussed. The effectiveness of these two alternative systems of governance will be critical for achieving the safe and beneficial implementation of AI.

The OLLI Celebration of Excellence celebrates our members, and their commitment to learn, grow and explore. We will reflect on the wonderful connections, events and classes that we have had this year. We thank our sponsors, community partners and our OLLI instructors for the special classes and programs they provide us. We recognize the university and Watts College for all their support. We honor our OLLI at ASU donors for their financial support. This combined support ensures the long-term sustainability of our enriching educational and social programming that touches so many lives.

This special event will also feature a presentation by Tina Miller, 'Catalysts of Creativity: ASU’s Human + AI Collaboration' exploring the intersection of technology, imagination, and human connection.

---

Event Schedule

12:30 p.m.         OLLI Showcase 2026

1:00 - 2:00 p.m. Catalysts of Creativity: ASU’s Human + AI Collaboration |

Panel:

• Tina Miller, Executive Director - Creative x Communications, Enterprise Technology

• Lindsay Kinkade, Managing Director, Creative Strategy, Enterprise Brand Strategy and Management

• Kelly DeVos, Communications Specialist, School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence

• Carrie Peterson, Associate Director, EdPlus Voice Strategist, EDPLUS Strategic Communications

Artificial intelligence is redefining what’s possible. Rather than viewing AI as a challenge to education or creativity, ASU embraces it as a catalyst for innovation. This panel explores how university teams are using AI to expand imagination, design, and storytelling. Through collaboration, storytelling, and experimentation, these teams are redefining creation in the age of intelligent technology—where imagination and AI unite to shape the future of possibility.

2:00 - 2:30 p.m. OLLI at ASU Recognition & Year in Review Presentation

2:30 - 3:30 p.m. Reception