No longer just a buzzword resonating at technology conferences and industry expos, artificial intelligence is reshaping the very core of higher education and the future of work. On campuses from Atlanta to Michigan, students, faculty, and administrators are grappling with the possibilities and dangers of AI, seeking to harness its power while remaining wary of its pitfalls. This semester, Oglethorpe University is bringing this theme to the forefront with an On Mutual Ground event titled “Ethics and the Future of AI,” scheduled for February 26, 2026, at 1:00 pm in Lupton Auditorium.
This event is part of a campus-wide dialogue series aimed at fostering inclusive conversations about difficult topics and will feature two leading voices in the field. Dr. Edward L. Queen, Director of Emory University’s D. Abbott Turner Program in Ethics and Servant Leadership, and Aboran Bingham, Drive Capital’s Atlanta Seed General Manager and Chairman of Atlanta Tech Week. Both bring a wealth of experience and unique perspectives to the table, promising lively and enlightening discussions for Oglethorpe students and the broader community.
Dr. Queen’s career has been dedicated to developing and implementing ethics programs across businesses, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies. My current advisory role at Merlynn Intelligence Technologies focuses on the ethical challenges posed by artificial intelligence and machine learning. Meanwhile, Bingham stands at the intersection of technology and business innovation. As an organizer of the Atlanta chapter of AI Tinkerers, a global community of engineers, researchers, developers, and technology professionals, he champions the practical integration of generative AI into industry, helping organizations adapt and thrive in an increasingly digital world.
“Multiple studies show that the use of AI is most prevalent in age groups that match the student population, but there is little training or education on how to use AI in an ethical or helpful way, rather than having it do all the work for someone else,” said Dr. Jamie Iredell, lecturer in Core Research and committee member of the On Mutual Ground series. Iredell, who advocated for this student-centered discussion, hopes the event will help prepare students to navigate what he calls “this new and potentially problematic territory.”
The urgency for these conversations is not unique to Oglethorpe. Since OpenAI released ChatGPT in 2022, generative AI has penetrated higher education and the workforce like wildfire. According to reports state newsand educational institutions such as Michigan State University (MSU) are leaning into the technology, even offering students free access to Microsoft’s CoPilot. But this embrace raises many questions about how we should teach AI. Where do we draw the ethical line? And how do we ensure that in our rush to innovate, we don’t lose sight of the human skills that education should foster: critical thinking, creativity, and ethical reasoning?
At MSU, the AI Club is the epitome of these discussions. The club brings together students from a variety of majors and holds weekly workshops on AI-related topics, including an annual session dedicated to the ethics of artificial intelligence and the dangers of over-reliance on technology. Yash Kalani, a second-year computer science student and workshop coordinator, explained that “AI Club is very educational and teaches members the basics (…) and of course takes into account the huge impact that AI will have on work.”
One trend that’s catching the club’s attention is “vibecoding,” where developers use AI models to quickly convert human text into code. This can lead to the creation of new websites and apps quickly, but it is not without risks. “There are two sides to this coin, and on the one hand, vibecoding can be very beneficial. We’re also showing you the other side of the coin, that not knowing the basic fundamentals can really catch you up,” said MSU-AI club vice president and data science senior Clara Lindweil. The club’s workshops strive to strike a balance so that both technology novices and experienced computer science majors graduate with working knowledge and a healthy dose of skepticism.
Beyond technical skills, the club’s graduates emphasize the importance of lifelong learning and human agency in a world of AI. “New technology is always coming out, but it’s hard for individuals to keep up and learn together,” says Pratham Pradhan, an MSU alumnus and former AI Club leader. He noted that the relentless pace of technological change has led to rapid turnover in the computer science field, making fundamental understanding and community support increasingly important.
“Every AI system is just a product of the people who create it and the type of data information used to train it. It’s just a repetition of the same information,” Lindeweil said, emphasizing the ongoing need for significant oversight and ethical considerations. Pradhan echoed this sentiment, noting that while AI has the potential to replace certain jobs, it also opens up new niche opportunities and changes the job market in unexpected ways. “Read and research almost every day to keep up with artificial intelligence. Only then can you make an impact,” Pradhan advised.
Returning to Oglethorpe, the “On Mutual Ground” series is designed to create the kind of open, student-centered dialogue advocated by exactly these experts and club leaders. The event’s focus on ethics is not just academic, but also a practical necessity as AI becomes increasingly integrated into students’ lives both inside and outside the classroom. The need for ethical literacy has never been greater, whether students are using AI tools themselves, encountering them in class, or preparing to enter a society with increasing expectations for AI fluency.
Dr. Queen’s hope is that events like this will help form “ethically informed and engaged citizens” who are ready to ask tough questions about the technologies they use and create. For Bingham, it’s about enabling the next generation to not only adapt to digital transformation, but also shape it with intention and integrity. And for students like MSU and Oglethorpe, it’s an opportunity to look beyond the hype and headlines and engage deeply with the opportunities and responsibilities that AI brings.
As the On Mutual Ground event date approaches, one thing is clear. That said, the debate over the role of AI in education and society is far from over. Rather, it is just the beginning, with students, educators, and industry leaders alike grappling with ways to make the future of AI innovative and ethical.
