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In Artificial Unintelligence, Meredith Broussard argues that our collective enthusiasm for applying computer technology to every aspect of life has resulted in a tremendous amount of poorly designed systems. We are so eager to do everything digitally—hiring, driving, paying bills, even choosing romantic partners—that we have stopped demanding that our technology actually work. Broussard, a software developer and journalist, reminds us that there are fundamental limits to what we can (and should) do with technology. With this book, she offers a guide to understanding the inner workings and outer limits of technology—and issues a warning that we should never assume that computers always get things right.

Click on the book to the right if you wish to learn more or would like to sign up for this semester's Common Curriculum Reading.

Fall 2024 Meeting Times and Dates

Tuesday, September 10 from 4-5:30pm: Kick off meeting and book pick-up

• We hope to have an engaging speaker who can present on the book’s theme

Tuesday, September 24 from 4-5:30pm: 1^st meeting 

• Students should have read chapters 1 &2

Wednesday, October 9 from 4-5:30pm: 2^nd meeting 

• Students should have read chapters 3 & 4

Tuesday, October 22 from 4-5:30pm: 3^rd meeting 

• Students should have read chapters 5 & 6

Tuesday, October 29 from 4-5:30pm: Required mid-semester assessment meeting

 

Tuesday, November 5 from 4-5:30pm: 4^th meeting 

• Students should have read chapters 7 & 8

Tuesday, November 19 from 4-5:30pm: 5^th meeting 

• Students should have read chapters 9 & 10

Tuesday, December 3 from 4-5:30pm: Final meeting and final assessment  

• Students should have read chapters 11 & 12 and will be given time to complete their final reflection 

In Artificial Unintelligence, Meredith Broussard argues that our collective enthusiasm for applying computer technology to every aspect of life has resulted in a tremendous amount of poorly designed systems. We are so eager to do everything digitally—hiring, driving, paying bills, even choosing romantic partners—that we have stopped demanding that our technology actually work. Broussard, a software developer and journalist, reminds us that there are fundamental limits to what we can (and should) do with technology. With this book, she offers a guide to understanding the inner workings and outer limits of technology—and issues a warning that we should never assume that computers always get things right.

Click on the book to the right if you wish to learn more about the book or click below if you would like to sign up for next semester's Common Curriculum Reading.

Spring 2025 Meeting Times and Dates

Tuesday, January 28 from 4-5:30pm: Kick off meeting and book pick-up

• We hope to have an engaging speaker who can present on the book’s theme

Tuesday, February 11 from 4-5:30pm: 1^st meeting 

• Students should have read chapters 1 &2

Tuesday, February 25 from 4-5:30pm: 2^nd meeting 

• Students should have read chapters 3 & 4

Tuesday, March 11 from 4-5:30pm: 3^rd meeting 

• Students should have read chapters 5 & 6

Tuesday, March 25 from 4-5:30pm: Required mid-semester assessment meeting

 

Tuesday, April 8 from 4-5:30pm: 4^th meeting 

• Students should have read chapters 7 & 8

Tuesday, April 22 from 4-5:30pm: 5^th meeting 

• Students should have read chapters 9 & 10

Tuesday, April 29 from 4-5:30pm: Final meeting and final assessment  

• Students should have read chapters 11 & 12 and will be given time to complete their final reflection 

“If you want to help create a more equitable world but don’t know where to start, Infectious Generosity is for you.”—Bill Gates, GatesNotes 

The bestselling author, media pioneer, and curator of TED explores one of humankind’s defining but overlooked impulses, and how we can super-charge its potential to build a hopeful future

Let’s face it: Recent years have been tough on optimists. Hopes that the Internet might bring people together have been crushed by the ills of social media. Is there a way back?

As head of TED, Chris Anderson has had a ringside view of the world’s boldest thinkers sharing their most uplifting ideas. Inspired by them, he believes that it’s within our grasp to turn outrage back into optimism. It all comes down to reimagining one of the most fundamental human virtues: generosity. What if generosity could become infectious generosity? Consider 

• how a London barber began offering haircuts to people experiencing homelessness—and catalyzed a movement
• how two anonymous donors gave $10,000 each to two hundred strangers and discovered that most recipients wanted to “pay it forward” with their own generous acts
• how TED itself transformed from a niche annual summit into a global beacon of ideas by giving away talks online, allowing millions access to free learning

In telling these inspiring stories, Anderson has given us “the first page-turner ever written about human generosity” (Elizabeth Dunn). More important, he offers a playbook for how to embark on our own generous acts—whether gifts of money, time, talent, connection, or kindness—and to prime them, thanks to the Internet, to have self-replicating, even world-changing, impact.

 

Click on the book to the right if you wish to learn more about the book or click below if you would like to sign up for next semester's Common Curriculum Reading.

Fall 2025 Meeting Times and Dates

• Students can choose between the following session times:

AM Session: 9:30am-11am or  PM Session: 4pm-5:30pm

Tuesday, September 16: Kick off meeting and book pick-up

 

Tuesday, September 30: 1^st reading group meeting  

 

Tuesday, October 14: 2^nd reading group meeting  

 

Tuesday, October 28: 3^rd reading group meeting

 

Tuesday, November 11: 4^th reading group meeting and mid-semester assessment

 

Tuesday, November 18: 5^th reading group meeting 

 

Tuesday, December 2: 6^th reading group meeting and final assessment