Humanities, AI and the Digital Age Conference
May 1–3 | Center for Arabic Studies and Islamic Civilizations (CASIC)
American University of Sharjah
With a focus on exploring the critical intersections between the humanities—including philosophy and theology—in addressing the rapid advancements in science and technology shaping our world, the Center for Arabic Studies and Islamic Civilizations (CASIC) at American University of Sharjah (AUS) is hosting the Humanities, AI and the Digital Age Conference. The event’s primary objective is to advance the understanding of the implications of the digital revolution, as well as the complexities and challenges surrounding artificial intelligence (AI). The conference will examine how digital technologies are transforming scholarship, pedagogy, translation and cultural representation within the context of the Arab and Islamic worlds.
Conference Objectives
- Explore the debates surrounding AI, focusing on how philosophy, Islamic ethics and theological traditions offer insights to address AI's challenges and bridge the gap in public and academic engagement with its cultural and ethical dimensions.
- Enable critical reflection on the cultural implications of human-technology interactions that recent developments in AI and robotics have rapidly transformed.
- Examine the impact of technological innovations and how to align AI with human values and social norms, addressing issues like accountability, ethics, transhumanism, equal education, art and cultural identity.
- Reflect on how digital humanities are shaping our understanding of histories and cultures, language, or even the dissemination of values, and arts and creativities.
- Address challenges that educators face as they navigate profound social, economic, political changes; how to respond to these challenges and how to integrate philosophy and ethics into AI in the realm of education.
- Promote interdisciplinary collaboration between researchers across different departments and disciplines at AUS, including departments of Arabic and Translation Studies, International Studies, Philosophy, Media Communication, and English, as well as researchers at the AUS Artificial Intelligence, Smart Infrastructure, and Robotics (AISIR) Research Center.
Key International Speakers
- Dr. Annouchka Bayley, Associate Professor and Chair of the Arts and Creativities Research Group, Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge
- Dr. Hureyre Kam, Professor, Institute for Islamic Theology and Religious Education, University of Innsbruck
- Dr. Mohamed Ghaly, Professor of Islam and Biomedical Ethics, Research Center for Islamic Legislation and Ethics, Hamad Bin Khalifa University
- Assist Prof. Khaled Al-Kassimi, Political Science and International Relations, American University in the Emirates
- Dr. Paolo Dario, Professor of Biomedical Robotics and Director of The BioRobotics Institute of the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Italy, and visiting researcher, Khalifa University.
Location: American University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates | LIB-011, University Library and Hall B, Main Building
This is a free and open event – no registration required.
For Inquiries: nalshaar@aus.edu
