Expert to discuss AI’s impact on warfare, human judgment at AU lecture Nov. 4

ASHLAND, Ohio – As artificial intelligence reshapes global politics, Ashland University will welcome Branka Marijan, Ph.D., an expert on emerging technologies and international security, for a special presentation exploring the challenges of preserving human judgment and accountability in government decision-making on Wednesday, Nov. 4, at 7 p.m.

Marijan will present “AI and Warfare: Preserving Human Judgment and Agency” in the Alumni Room of the John C. Myers Convocation Center. The event, which is being co-sponsored by Ashland Center for Nonviolence (ACN) and the Honors Program, is free and open to the public.

During “AI and Warfare,” Marijan will discuss the intensifying geopolitical competition and advances in AI that are changing the nature of military decisions and raising questions about human control, accountability and the future of warfare. One emerging theme will be the importance and urgency of preserving meaningful human judgment and maintaining agency in decisions about the use of force as technology rapidly develops.

Marijan is a senior fellow at the Centre for International Governance Innovation, a Canadian think tank focused on research and analysis of cutting-edge issues that intersect transformative technologies and governance, and a senior researcher at Project Ploughshares. She is also a lecturer in the Master of Global Affairs program at the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy.

At Ploughshares, Marijan leads research on the military and security implications of emerging technologies, including autonomous weapons systems, artificial intelligence and robotics. Her research interests include trends in warfare, civilian protection, drone use and civil-military relations. She also serves on the board of the Peace and Conflict Studies Association of Canada and is a research fellow at the Kindred Credit Union Centre for Peace Advancement at the University of Waterloo.

Now in its 23rd year, ACN promotes alternatives to violence through education, training and building relationships that foster awareness and consideration of issues related to nonviolence and social justice, and supports ways to create a caring community that is inclusive and just.

For more information, please contact Shelley Karl, assistant director of ACN, at skarl@ashland.edu or 419-289-5313.