Seeing Through the AI Hype: A Conversation on Navigating AI’s Impact on Creativity and Learning 

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 P'29, P'32, Lab Board Member

Abstract: In a world rapidly filled with AI systems that generate content, make decisions, and guild our choices, how do we safeguard and nurture the core human abilities, including authenticity, creativity and the ability to learn and adapt? This question is important for us all but it is particularly urgent for younger generations, whose current learning experiences are being influenced by AI and future trajectories potentially disrupted by the rapid growth and penetration of AI technologies. 

Join Lab parent, Dr. Heather Zheng P’29 P’32, the Neubauer Professor of Computer Science at UChicago and a lab board member, who will discuss the impact of AI on society and present ideas of how individuals (adults and kids) can navigate the increasingly complex perception of the world shaped by AI.

This event includes two parts. In Part 1, Dr. Zheng will present a short intro on AI and its impact, and discuss potential methods that individuals can apply to protect and strengthen human creativity/authenticity and facilitate learning. She will also share how she interacts with her family on this topic. Part 2 will be a highly interactive Q&A session, so come prepared with questions! 

Special Note: Dr. Zheng is an award-winning, computer science faculty at University of Chicago known for her expertise on security and privacy, mobile computing and networking. Together with her partner, Ben Zhao, the two UChicago professors have been developing tools for protecting human artists against unethical data training by AI technologies. They have released two tools (Glaze and Nightshade) for public use (10M+ downloads around 160+ countries so far). This line of work received the USENIX Internet Defense Prize, the Chicago Innovation Award, a special mention in TIME Magazine Best Inventions of 2023, and the Community Impact Award from the Concept Art Association in 2024, and many other awards.

Audience: While this event is primarily for adults seeking deeper insight into how AI is shaping society, the workplace, and education, with the aim of facilitating conversations about these changes with families and kids, it may also be appropriate for students at/above high school.