AI in the Liberal Arts at Amherst College

What AI Means

Technology EN ↓ 9 episodes

What AI Means is the podcast that asks scholars and creators about the significance of artificial intelligence for the world as they see it, through the lenses of their disciplines and their expertise. These short, accessible conversations are brought to you by Lee Spector, a professor of Computer Science at Amherst College and the Director of AI in the Liberal Arts. Harp Flourish by Nathan Manaker – full credits: https://freesound.org/s/486952/Deep Church Bell by ZoshP – full credits: https://freesound.org/s/530914/

Author

AI in the Liberal Arts at Amherst College

Episodes

What AI Means for Photography with Genesis Baez 21.05.2026 15:12

An interview with Genesis Baez, who is an assistant professor of art at Amherst College. Baez argues that AI reveals and amplifies many of the same questions photography has always raised about truth, bias, and representation. She emphasizes that neither photography nor AI is neutral, since both are shaped by human choices, data, and power structures.

What AI Means for Philosophy of Mind with Laura Sizer 14.04.2026 16:45

In this episode, Laura Sizer, Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at Mount Holyoke College, explores how AI acts as “thought experiments made real.” She examines limits of understanding, embodiment, and the Turing Test, arguing AI reflects human thinking but cannot fully replicate it.

What AI Means for Earth Science with Nicholas Holschuh 03.04.2026 19:20

In this episode of What AI Means, Nicholas D. Holschuh explores how AI is transforming Earth science. This conversation highlights how new tools are helping scientists better understand glaciers, climate uncertainty, and the future of our planet.

What AI Means for Sustainability with Auroop Ganguly 25.02.2026 16:59

College of Engineering Distinguished Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Northeastern University, and Chief Scientist and Joint Appointee at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Auroop Ganguly considers how AI is reshaping sustainability science, climate risk, and infrastructure resilience and what this means for our collective environmental future...

What AI Means for Art with Miloslava Hruba 12.01.2026 10:46

Study Room Manager and European Print Specialist at the Mead Art Museum at Amherst College, Hruba considers how AI is reshaping practices in art-making, preservation, and curation and what this means for artistic interpretation.

What AI Means for Religion with Andrew Dole 09.01.2026 24:42

Professor and Chair of the Religion Department at Amherst College, Dole examines how AI intersects with questions of belief, interpretation, agency, and religious life.

What AI Means for Theater with Eric Sawyer 09.01.2026 17:12

Professor in Dramatic Arts (music) at Amherst College, Sawyer discusses AI’s role in performance, imagination, and collaborative creation.

What AI Means for Peace and World Security with Michael Klare 09.01.2026 13:09

Professor Emeritus of Peace & World Security Studies at Hampshire College, Klare discusses how AI technologies are influencing global security, diplomacy, and conflict prevention.

What AI Means for Writing with Kristina Reardon 07.01.2026 14:32

Kristina Reardon, Senior Lecturer in English at Amherst College, reflects on how AI is shaping the nature of writing, from creativity to pedagogy.