243 - Guest: Beth Singler, Anthropologist of Religion in AI, part 1

243 - Guest: Beth Singler, Anthropologist of Religion in AI, part 1

Author: aiandyou February 10, 2025 Duration: 34:12
This and all episodes at: https://aiandyou.net/ . On the recent wrap-up/predictions panel we had so much fascinating discussion about AI in religion with panelist Beth Singler that I said we should have her back on the show by herself to talk about that, so here she is! Beth is the Assistant Professor in Digital Religions and co-lead of the Media Existential Encounters and Evolving Technology Lab at the University of Zurich, where she leads projects on religion and AI. As an anthropologist, her research addresses the human, religious, cultural, social, and ethical implications of developments in AI and robotics.  She received the 2021 Digital Religion Research Award from the Network for New Media, Religion, and Digital Culture Studies. Her popular science communication work includes a series of award-winning short documentaries on AI. She is co-editor of the Cambridge Companion to Religion and AI, and author of Religion and AI: An Introduction, both published last year.  In part 1, we talk about why religion and AI is a thing and what its dimensions are, the influence of science fiction, tropes like End Times, AI used in religious roles, and the Singularity. Transcript and URLs referenced at HumanCusp Blog.        

The conversation around artificial intelligence is often filled with either breathless hype or dire warnings, leaving little room for grounded, practical understanding. Artificial Intelligence and You cuts through that noise. This isn't a lecture series from a distant ivory tower; it's a guided exploration meant for anyone curious about how these tools are reshaping the everyday. Each episode takes a focused look at a single facet of AI, from the algorithms curating your social media feed to the software that might change how you work. We break down complex concepts into clear, relatable terms, asking the questions that actually matter for your decisions and your future. You'll hear straightforward explanations of how different AI systems function, alongside thoughtful discussions about their real-world implications-the ethical dilemmas, the economic shifts, and the personal impacts that rarely make the headlines. The goal of this podcast is to replace confusion with clarity and anxiety with informed perspective. Whether you're a professional navigating new tools, a student planning a career, or simply a person living in an increasingly digital world, these conversations provide the context you need to form your own opinions. Join us as we move beyond the abstract to examine what AI genuinely means for your life, your community, and the kind of world we're all building together, one line of code at a time.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Artificial Intelligence and You
Podcast Episodes
245 - Guest: Paul Reber, Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience, part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:47
This and all episodes at: https://aiandyou.net/ . How do our brains produce thinking? My guest is an expert in cognitive neuroscience, the field that aims to answer that question. Paul Reber is professor of psychology at…
244 - Guest: Beth Singler, Anthropologist of Religion in AI, part 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:44
This and all episodes at: https://aiandyou.net/ . On the recent wrap-up/predictions panel we had so much fascinating discussion about AI in religion with panelist Beth Singler that I said we should have her back on the s…
242 - Guest: Nick Potkalitsky, AI Integration Expert [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:13
This and all episodes at: https://aiandyou.net/ . Continuing our exploration of AI in education, I am joined by Nick Potkalitsky, founder of Pragmatic AI Solutions and co-author of AI in Education: A Roadmap For Teacher-…
241 - Guest: Mutlu Cukurova, AI in Education Expert, part 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:37
This and all episodes at: https://aiandyou.net/ . Virtually every issue around AI – pro, con, in-between – is reflected in education right now. And teachers are on the front lines of this disruption. So it’s especially i…
240 - Guest: Mutlu Cukurova, AI in Education Expert, part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:09
This and all episodes at: https://aiandyou.net/ . Virtually every issue around AI – pro, con, in-between – is reflected in education right now. And teachers are on the front lines of this disruption. So it’s especially i…
239 - Guest: Neil Brown, Ethics in Journalism Expert, part 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:28
This and all episodes at: https://aiandyou.net/ . Few institutions are under as much pressure today as journalism and news publishing, and AI features squarely in the middle of those pressures. Disinformation, social med…
238 - Guest: Neil Brown, Ethics in Journalism Expert, part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:47
This and all episodes at: https://aiandyou.net/ . Few institutions are under as much pressure today as journalism and news publishing, and AI features squarely in the middle of those pressures. Disinformation, social med…
237 - Special Panel: AI 2024 Cultural Retrospective/2025 Predictions [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:57
This and all episodes at: https://aiandyou.net/ . In our last episode of 2024, we have our traditional end of year retrospective/prediction episode. We’ll be taking a look back over the year just ending and forward to 20…
236 - Guest: Alexandra Belias, Head of Public Policy, DeepMind [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:30
This and all episodes at: https://aiandyou.net/ . Here to give us insights into some of the really cool stuff Google DeepMind is doing is Alexandra Belias, Head of product policy & partnerships. She serves as a bridge be…
235 - Guest: Dwayne Wood, Professor of Education, part 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:57
This and all episodes at: https://aiandyou.net/ . It's tough enough being a teacher in the AI age, so can you imagine what it's like training the teachers themselves? That's what Dwayne Wood, Associate Professor at Natio…