REGINA — As artificial intelligence rapidly reshapes daily life, a new University of Regina series is urging people to slow down and examine its broader impacts.
The Human(e) Futures Colloquium is sparking critical conversations at the University of Regina about the sweeping effects of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) on education, research and society. Held Thursdays from 2-3:15 p.m. in Ad Hum 348, the series brings together faculty from multiple disciplines to examine what happens when AI technologies are introduced into classrooms, labs and creative spaces.
Marta Bashovski, associate professor of politics and international studies at Campion College, explained the motivation behind the series.
“We wanted to slow down and think critically about the adoption of these technologies. What happens environmentally, what happens in the classroom, what happens to research when we assume full speed ahead with AI? Our goal is to consider these effects thoughtfully before they become normalized.”
The first session, “Writing as Relation: Teaching, thinking, and alienation in the time of generative AI,” focuses on how AI tools disrupt relationships in writing-intensive courses — between students and instructors, between students and their own thinking, and among classmates. Bashovski highlighted that these disruptions can lead to new forms of alienation that extend beyond the classroom.
Challenges we face
Upcoming sessions tackle broader societal issues, including labour, creativity and the environment. On April 2, Dr. Simon Enoch, adjunct at the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and in politics and international studies, will discuss the rapid expansion of data centres and the environmental and political backlash they have caused in North America.
Jérôme Melançon, associate professor in philosophy and classics, will examine how AI functions as a “machine of capture,” gathering data, labour and public funds, while challenging the meaningfulness of human work. “We are looking at the human consequences of treating these technologies as neutral tools,” Bashovski said.
The colloquium also considers the impact of AI on artistic and creative practices. Jes Battis and Medrie Purdham from the Department of English and Creative Writing will explore how AI is changing publishing and creative writing education, and what alternatives exist to preserve slow, process-oriented creative development.
A final discussion on April 23 addresses open access and internet scraping. With AI models trained on vast amounts of public web content, questions arise about ownership, access and the commodification of knowledge. The session will explore the tension between sharing knowledge openly and protecting creators from exploitation by large tech companies.
Building a thoughtful conversation
Bashovski emphasized that the colloquium emerged organically from faculty discussions across the social sciences and humanities.
“We noticed a gap in how the university was discussing AI,” she said. “There is a lot of excitement about the possibilities, but we wanted to explore the broader societal and human effects — how AI changes how we live, think and work together.”
She added that the series also prioritizes accessibility and interdisciplinary perspectives.
“If people can’t attend, they can check the calendar, engage with the manifesto, and get involved. Our goal is to bring together students, researchers and community members to think critically and collaboratively about AI’s future.”
The colloquium runs until the end of April, with six events scheduled, including a closing talk by Dr. Samantha Lawler from Astronomy on the environmental effects of data centres, both on Earth and in space. Bashovski said organizers hope the series will continue into the fall.
“We want to give the university and the community a space to pause, reflect and question how these ubiquitous technologies are shaping our world,” Bashovski said.
From classrooms to creative studios, labour markets to climate policy, the Human(e) Futures Colloquium asks the questions that often go unasked. By bringing together diverse perspectives, the series aims to slow the rush toward adoption, examine unintended consequences, and foster more thoughtful, equitable and sustainable approaches to AI.
