Agnes Scott College to Host Yearlong Symposium on AI and Human Flourishing
DECATUR, Ga – Agnes Scott College will launch a yearlong symposium this fall exploring what it means to live well in an age of artificial intelligence—bringing together students, faculty, staff and the greater community to examine how AI is reshaping human agency, wellbeing and purpose.
The symposium, titled “Living Well with AI—Exploring Prospects for Human Flourishing,” serves as the 2026-27 installment of the college’s Kirk Philosophy Lecture Series. Rather than asking whether machines can replicate human intelligence, the series asks a different question: as artificial agents increasingly stand in for search engines, teachers, therapists, friends and even romantic partners, how should people think about concepts like autonomy, freedom, authenticity and psychological wellbeing?
The symposium builds on Agnes Scott’s innovative institutional commitment to AI education. Beginning this fall, the college is also rolling out its Universal AI initiative, a three-part curriculum embedded in the first-year experience that ensures every Agnes Scott student develops foundational AI literacy, regardless of major. Where Universal AI equips students with the judgement to engage AI critically and ethically from day one, the symposium extends that mission outward, inviting the wider community to grapple with AI’s deeper implications for human life.
“This symposium exemplifies how liberal arts faculty and students show up to conversations – with curiosity, critical thinking and collaborative instincts,” said Rachel Bowser, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the college. “Agnes Scott has been committed to advancing critical conversations for more than a century; I’m proud of our faculty and students for consistently stepping into new collaborations.”
The symposium features a lineup of speakers spanning journalism, developmental psychology, moral philosophy, computational neuroscience and clinical psychology:
Opening Keynote, Wednesday, September 16 at 8 p.m.: Karen Hao, journalist and author of Empire of AI, will deliver “Dreams & Nightmares in the Empire of AI,” examining the systems of power in AI development and prospects for democratic governance and data sovereignty.
Thursday, October 15 at 5 p.m.: Robyn Fivush, Ph.D., of Emory University will present “Family Storytelling and Adolescent Well-being in an AI World,” exploring how AI can help or hinder the storytelling practices that build resilience in young people.
Thursday, November 12 at 5 p.m.: John Lysaker, Ph.D., of Emory University will present “The Content of Our Character,” on moral growth and integrity amid growing human-AI interaction.
Thursday, February 11 at 5 p.m.: Paul B. Sharp, Ph.D., of Bar-Ilan University will present “Why We Worry the Way We Do,” using AI combined with individual life histories to explain the nature of repetitive thoughts.
Thursday, March 25 at 5 p.m.: Joel G. Thomas, Ph.D., of Agnes Scott College will present “Relational Agency in the Age of AI,” examining how people build meaning psychologically and what that means for relating to AI as a friend or therapist.
Concluding Keynote, April 2027 (date to be announced)
Thomas, assistant professor of psychology, and Hal Thorsrud, Ph.D., professor of philosophy at Agnes Scott, are the co-creators of the Living Well with AI Symposium and both 2026-27 fellows with the Center for Liberal Arts and AI at the University of Richmond. Their fellowship focuses on access and power in relation to the development and implementation of artificial intelligence technologies.
Together, the Universal AI curriculum and the “Living Well with AI” symposium reflect Agnes Scott’s position that engaging AI thoughtfully—not simply adopting it—is now central to a liberal arts education. Where Universal AI builds that foundation in the classroom for every student, the symposium opens the conversation to the broader community, asking not just how AI works, but how to live well alongside it. This programming allows its attendees to shift with the world around them.
Sessions are free and open to the public. The opening keynote will be offered in a hybrid format. Guests can attend in person or virtually on Zoom. Keynote speaker Karen Hao will join us live virtually.
For a full schedule, speaker biographies and registration details, visit agnesscott.edu/psychology-ai-symposium.
About Agnes Scott College
Agnes Scott is a liberal arts college in Decatur, Georgia, built for ambitious students who want to lead. Since 1889, the college has prepared graduates through an education that combines strong academics, global learning, leadership development and professional experience beginning in the first year. Students learn in small classes where their ideas shape the conversation, gain experience across Atlanta’s leading organizations and graduate with the confidence and track record to succeed in careers, graduate school and beyond. Ranked the nation’s Most Innovative Liberal Arts College by U.S. News & World Report for eight consecutive years, Agnes Scott continues to prepare graduates who are ready to contribute, adapt and lead wherever opportunity takes them.
