We are inundated with claims about AI: “AI will affect almost 40% of jobs around the world,” says the International Monetary Fund, or consider Sam Altman’s claim that GPT-5 was akin to “having a team of PhD-level experts in your pocket." AI hype has mobilized institutional resources, public attention, and imagination around it. California State University, for example, spent $17 million on a contract with OpenAI for a chatbot. In this talk, I will explore what AI hype is, its common themes and message. I’ll argue that hype has ethical consequences, especially for trust. First, AI hype often invites us to de-stabilize what makes us trustworthy. Second, hype invites us to give up our moral and political agency rather than engage in deliberation needed for democratic decision-making.

Before the talk (~3:45pm), tea and coffee will be served outside 116 Weniger.

After the talk, there will be a reception with food and drink in 247 Weniger.