17th Annual Marbury Ethics Lecture to highlight ethical challenges of AI

17th Annual Marbury Ethics Lecture to highlight ethical challenges of AI

Apr 23, 2024| Business

Dr. Craig Van Slyke, Louisiana Tech University's Mike McCallister Eminent Scholar Chair in Information Systems, will headline the 17th annual William Ardis Marbury, Jr. and Virginia Lomax Marbury Lecture Series on Tuesday, April 30, at 4 p.m.

Sponsored by the Mr. and Mrs. Lue C. Napper Family and hosted by the College of Business, the lecture is free and open to the public. The event will take place in the Davis Auditorium (101) in the College of Business.

Van Slyke's presentation will focus on the ethics of human-artificial intelligence co-production.

"The future of generative AI will be shaped by how humans and AI work together to produce value, but not just economic value; social value is also critical," said Van Slyke. "To ensure that human-AI co-production benefits society as a whole, we must carefully consider the ethical implications for individuals, groups, and society as a whole. By proactively addressing the ethical challenges brought on by AI, we can harness its power for the greater good."

Van Slyke is leading researcher in the field of information systems. Prior to joining Louisiana Tech's faculty, he was professor and dean of the W.A. Franke College of Business at Northern Arizona University. He has also held faculty positions as Saint Louis University, University of Central Florida, and Ohio University. He holds a Ph.D. in information systems from the University of South Florida.

He has published over 60 articles in respected academic journals, including a forthcoming article in Organizational Dynamics that explores the ethical issues related to the use of generative AI in HR management. The fifth edition of his fourth co-authored textbook, Information Systems in Business: An Experiential Approach, will be published this year. Van Slyke produces the AI Goes to College newsletter and podcast as well as the Cyber Ways podcast.

"Artificial intelligence has the potential to revolutionize nearly every aspect of business," said College of Business Dean Dr. Chris Martin. "We want our students to be prepared by knowing how to use AI effectively, appropriately, and ethically. This is already taking place in our classrooms, and now we have the opportunity to expand on that through this year's Marbury Ethics Lecture. I'm grateful to the Nappers for their continued support of this lecture series and Craig for serving as this year's keynote speaker."

"Generative AI has great promise for helping us build a better world," said Van Slyke. "But such an outcome is not assured. There are many ethical challenges that must be overcome, including addressing AI bias, equal access to AI tools, and the potential uneven distribution of AI benefits and risks. We also need to implement AI technologies in ways that retain human agency and autonomy, while ensuring that our AI colleagues are transparent and trustworthy. Only by overcoming these challenges can we build a better world through AI."

About the Lecture Series
The William Ardis Marbury, Jr. and Virginia Lomax Marbury Lecture Series began in 2006 and is named after William Ardis Marbury, Jr. and his wife Virginia. The pair, both Louisiana Tech graduates, established William A. Marbury & Company, Inc., a managing general insurance agency. This corporation grew to be the largest agency in Louisiana, and one of the largest in the South. The general agency was sold in the 1950s to Commercial Union Insurance Company with the Ruston branch remaining the company's largest in the country. In 1959, the Marburys and their associates founded Bankers Life of Louisiana, which became the largest credit life insurance writer in the state. Today the Marbury Companies continue to thrive in Ruston, serving the banking, investment, and insurance sectors. The companies founded by the couple continue to have a major impact on the economy and the community. For more information on the Marbury Lecture Series, contact College of Business Executive Director of Development Mary Susan Britt at [email protected].

About the College of Business
Through market-responsive academic programs, impactful scholarship, and a student-focused culture, Louisiana Tech University's College of Business graduates business and academic leaders who are innovative, entrepreneurially minded, and analytically and technologically skilled for a globally competitive marketplace. Building on a vibrant community of life-long learners, our graduates are prepared to positively impact business and society. Accredited by AACSB International, the College offers eight undergraduate degree programs in addition to the master of business administration, master of accountancy, and doctor of business administration. For more information, visit business.latech.edu.