A Discussion about AI & Protecting Identity and Reality for the Future

Wednesday, April 22, 2026

Time: 6-8 p.m.

Location: JUDD C-116

Restrictions: This event is best for adults and students in High School.

Hosted by Dr. Heather Zheng, Lab Board Member

Today’s generative AI models excel at mimicking a wide range of content and data, from human faces and voices, to works of art and music.  In a world increasingly shaped by AI generators,  what does it take to protect our identity and manage our perception of reality,  and those of the generations to come?  Heather Zheng,  a Computer Science faculty at the University of Chicago and a Lab Board Member, will discuss ideas that empower individuals to reclaim control over their identity and navigate an increasingly complex perception of the world.  Together with her partner, Ben Zhao, the two UChicago professors have released Glaze and Nightshade, tools that disrupt GenAI from training on and mimicking visual artists. Today, these tools protect millions of artists from over 160 countries around the globe.