Connecticut College AI symposium asks: Can artificial intelligence possess wisdom?

Connecticut College will host its second annual AI and the Liberal Arts Symposium on Oct. 16-17, bringing scholars, educators and AI practitioners to New London for conversations about artificial intelligence, higher education and the future of the liberal arts.

The 2026 symposium, The Paradox of AI in the Liberal Arts, will explore how AI is changing teaching, learning, creativity, critical thinking and human decision-making.

The symposium will feature presentations, interactive activities, group discussions, an Oxford-style debate and a keynote presentation by new media scholar Jon Ippolito.

Registration is now open at https://ailiberalarts.digital.conncoll.edu/registration/.

Debate asks whether AI can possess wisdom “The Great AI Debate” begins at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 17. AI and education strategist Patrick Dempsey and P. Anand Rao, professor of communication and digital studies and director of the Center for AI and the Liberal Arts at the University of Mary Washington, will debate the motion:

“This House believes that wisdom cannot be synthesized by AI.”

Dempsey will argue in favor of the motion, while Rao will argue against it.

The debate will examine whether AI can move beyond processing information to demonstrate judgment, meaning and wisdom. ScholarStack AI is supporting the event.

Jon Ippolito to deliver keynote

Jon Ippolito, professor of new media and director of the Digital Curation graduate program at the University of Maine, will deliver the Harold F. Wiley Keynote Presentation.