Artificial intelligence is no longer just a buzzword echoing through tech conferences and industry expos—it’s 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 promise and peril of AI, seeking to harness its power while remaining wary of its pitfalls. This semester, Oglethorpe University is putting the topic front and center with its On Mutual Ground event, titled “Ethics and the Future of AI,” scheduled for February 26, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. in Lupton Auditorium.
The event, part of a campus-wide dialogue series designed to foster inclusive conversations on challenging topics, will feature two leading voices in the field: Dr. Edward L. Queen, director of the D. Abbott Turner Program in Ethics and Servant Leadership at Emory University, and Avoilan Bingham, Atlanta Seed General Manager at Drive Capital and president of Atlanta Tech Week. Both bring a wealth of experience and distinct perspectives to the table, promising a lively and enlightening discussion for Oglethorpe’s students and wider community.
Dr. Queen’s career has been dedicated to the development and implementation of ethics programs across businesses, non-profits, and government agencies. His current advisory role with Merlynn Intelligence Technologies focuses on the ethical challenges posed by artificial intelligence and machine learning. Bingham, on the other hand, stands at the intersection of technology and business innovation. As an organizer of the AI Tinkerers Atlanta chapter—a global community of engineers, researchers, developers, and tech experts—he champions the practical integration of generative AI into industry, helping organizations adapt and thrive in an increasingly digitized world.
“According to a number of studies, AI use is most prevalent in the ages of people who match our student population, but there is little to nothing in the way of training or education on how to use AI in an ethical or helpful—as opposed to AI doing all of the work for someone—way,” said Dr. Jamie Iredell, a lecturer in Core studies and a committee member for the On Mutual Ground series. Iredell, who advocated for this student-focused discussion, hopes the event will help equip students to navigate what he describes as “this new and potentially problematic territory.”
The urgency of these conversations isn’t limited to Oglethorpe. Since OpenAI’s release of ChatGPT in 2022, generative AI has swept through higher education and the workforce like wildfire. As reported by The State News, institutions such as Michigan State University (MSU) have leaned into the technology, even providing students with free access to Microsoft’s CoPilot. But with this embrace comes a host of questions: How should AI be taught? Where do we draw the ethical lines? And how do we ensure that, in the rush to innovate, we don’t lose sight of the human skills—critical thinking, creativity, and ethical reasoning—that education is meant to foster?
At MSU, the AI Club has become a microcosm of these debates. The club, which draws students from a spectrum of majors, hosts weekly workshops on AI-related topics, including a yearly session devoted to the ethics of artificial intelligence and the dangers of overreliance on the technology. Yash Kalani, a computer science sophomore and workshop coordinator, explained, “AI club is very educational, we teach members the bare bones (...) and then we obviously consider the huge impact AI will have on jobs.”
One trend that’s caught the club’s attention is “vibe-coding”—a practice where developers use AI models to rapidly translate human text into code. While this can lead to the quick creation of new websites and apps, it’s not without its risks. “There’s two sides of that coin, on one side vibe-coding can be very profitable. We also show the other side of that coin where not knowing the basic fundamentals can really catch up to you,” said Clara Linjewile, MSU-AI club vice president and data science senior. The club’s workshops strive to strike a balance, ensuring that both tech novices and seasoned computer science majors walk away with practical knowledge—and a healthy dose of skepticism.
Beyond technical skills, the club’s alumni stress the importance of lifelong learning and human agency in the world of AI. “The thing with technology is that there’s always something new that comes out, and it’s hard for an individual to keep up with, and learn together,” said Pratham Pradhan, an MSU alumnus and past AI Club leader. He noted that the relentless pace of technological change leads to rapid turnover in the computer science field, making foundational understanding and community support all the more crucial.
“Every AI system is only a product of whoever created it and the kind of data information it’s being trained on. It’s just iterations of the same information,” Linjewile observed, highlighting the ongoing need for critical oversight and ethical consideration. Pradhan echoed this sentiment, noting that while AI may displace certain jobs, it also opens up new, niche opportunities and shifts the job market in unexpected ways. “Read and research about artificial intelligence almost every day to catch up with it, and only then can you make an impact,” Pradhan advised.
Back at Oglethorpe, the On Mutual Ground series is designed to create exactly the sort of open, student-centered dialogue that these experts and club leaders advocate. The event’s focus on ethics isn’t just academic—it’s a practical necessity as AI becomes ever more embedded in students’ lives, both inside and outside the classroom. Whether students are using AI tools themselves, encountering them in coursework, or preparing to enter a workforce that increasingly expects AI fluency, the need for ethical literacy has never been greater.
For Dr. Queen, the hope is that events like these will help mold “ethically informed and engaged citizens,” ready to ask tough questions about the technologies they use and create. For Bingham, it’s about empowering the next generation to not only adapt to digital transformation but to shape it with intention and integrity. And for students like those at MSU and Oglethorpe, it’s a chance to move beyond the hype and the headlines, engaging deeply with the opportunities and responsibilities that AI presents.
As the date for the On Mutual Ground event approaches, one thing is clear: the conversation about AI’s role in education and society is far from over. If anything, it’s just getting started—as students, educators, and industry leaders alike grapple with how to ensure that the future of AI is both innovative and ethical.