What Are We Talking About When We Talk About AI?

University of Connecticut Humanities Institute

Ever wonder why AI conversations feel like people are talking past each other? That's because they are. Join scholars from around the world as they tackle the most important terms in AI—and discover they don't mean the same thing to everyone. From Storrs, Connecticut to Rabat, Morocco, from computer labs to philosophy seminars, we're eavesdropping on the conversations that reveal how different fields understand artificial intelligence. Spoiler alert: the differences matter more than you think. Made possible by funding from CHCI and the Mellon Foundation.

Episodes

  1. 4D AGO

    Dr. AI and the Future of Healthcare with Ihsane Hmamouchi

    Ihsane Hmamouchi (Rheumatologist and Epidemiologist, International University of Rabat) presents her paper “How might we understand the meaning of "care" in the age of Artificial Intelligence?” at the What Are We Talking About When We Talk About AI? Symposium. October 9, 2025 at the University of Connecticut Humanities Institute. In this episode, Ihsane Hmamouchi examines the complexities of care in healthcare when the caregiver is an algorithm, chatbot, or otherwise digital companion instead of a human. By walking us through the profound implications for AI in healthcare, Hmamouchi emphasizes the need for inclusivity and equity in designing future models of care for patients of all backgrounds. Rather than flattening diversity into uniformity, AI can reveal how different languages and cultures express pain, understand illness, and ultimately experience healing. The future of care in the age of AI will mean inclusivity, cultural relevancy, and centering the patient’s voice at its core.  Prefer to watch? Check out this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/p4Ii6_EWjIg Learn more about “Reading Between the Lines,” the collaboration between UConn and UIR that produced this podcast.

    13 min

  2. JAN 29

    Care, Love, and Chatbots with Anna Mae Duane

    Anna Mae Duane delivers her talk, “New Love Stories: Companion Bots and the Changing Narrative of Care” at the What Are We Talking About When We Talk About AI? Symposium. October 9, 2025 at the University of Connecticut Humanities Institute. In her talk, Anna Mae Duane dares us to consider the stakes of caring for AI by examining the power of love stories and their ability to change how we understand our relationships with AI. Falling in love with the imaginary has been a facet of human creativity for centuries, particularly among adolescents and AI companions and chatbot lovers are just the latest iteration of this phenomenon. Moreover, the desire for AI companionship amongst teens and adults shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Rather than shying away from the realities of caring for AI, Duane encourages us to recognize our own work as co-authors. Prefer to watch? Check out this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/N1GBlDo4Vg4 Learn more about “Reading Between the Lines,” the collaboration between UConn and UIR that produced this podcast.

    20 min

  3. 10/02/2025

    Learning

    Do you need understanding to learn? In this episode, our scholars ruminate on the relationship between understanding and the potential of AI to actually “learn” through various methods including repetition and exposure to data. However, they also encourage us to consider the humanistic nature of learning specifically through cultural sensitivities and knowing who you’re studying. Ultimately, they ask: if AI can truly learn and absorb new information, will it ever be able to capture the emotional processing required to learn? UConn Humanities Institute and professor of English, Director Anna Mae Duane leads a conversation about AI and learning, featuring Hakim Hafidi, assistant professor in machine learning, head of the department of AI, Université Internationale de Rabat; and Ihsane Hmamouchi, vice dean of the faculty of medicine, Université Internationale de Rabat. Learn more about “Reading Between the Lines,” the collaboration between UConn and UIR that produced this podcast.

    22 min

  4. 09/25/2025

    Education

    What does it mean to be an educator and to educate in a world becoming reliant on artificial intelligence? This week our scholars take on the question of how AI will reshape the future of education across several disciplines including literature, law, and medicine. AI has already transformed how students learn in a world driven by efficiency. The question now becomes how educators will respond to the growing challenges and promises of an advanced technological world while elevating the unique powers of the human mind. UConn Humanities Institute and professor of English, Director Anna Mae Duane leads a conversation about AI and education, featuring Najia Hajjaj Hassouni, dean of the College of Health Sciences, Université Internationale de Rabat; Ouassim Karrakchou, deputy director of TICLab and professor of computer science, Université Internationale de Rabat; Tina Huey, Interim Director of Faculty Development, Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, University of Connecticut; and Meriem Regragui, professor of law, Université Internationale de Rabat. Learn more about “Reading Between the Lines,” the collaboration between UConn and UIR that produced this podcast.

    28 min

  5. 09/17/2025

    Justice

    Can artificial intelligence one day help to mitigate systemic inequality? As part of UConn's Human-Centered AI Initiative, we've brought together a roundtable of scholars from Connecticut to Morocco define “justice” within their discipline.  It's only by understanding what we mean by the word justice, that we can begin to work together to deploy AI to create a more just and equitable world. UConn Humanities Institute and professor of English, Director Anna Mae Duane leads a conversation about AI and justice, featuring Meriem Regragui, professor of law, Université Internationale de Rabat; Ting-An Lin, assistant professor of philosophy, University of Connecticut; Avijit Ghosh, applied policy researcher at Hugging Face and associate researcher at Riot Lab, University of Connecticut. Learn more about “Reading Between the Lines,” the collaboration between UConn and UIR that produced this podcast.

    33 min
  • 5 Episodes

About

Ever wonder why AI conversations feel like people are talking past each other? That's because they are. Join scholars from around the world as they tackle the most important terms in AI—and discover they don't mean the same thing to everyone. From Storrs, Connecticut to Rabat, Morocco, from computer labs to philosophy seminars, we're eavesdropping on the conversations that reveal how different fields understand artificial intelligence. Spoiler alert: the differences matter more than you think. Made possible by funding from CHCI and the Mellon Foundation.

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