08/28/2026
Our series last fall, Empire of Screens explored the platforms and algorithms quietly shaping modern life. This Sunday, August 30, we return—and this time artificial intelligence moves to the center of the conversation.
Empire of Screens, Part II: Human After All is neither an advertisement for AI nor an invitation to panic and move permanently into the woods. This will be an accessible, six-week exploration of what these technologies can do, where they fail, what they cost, and how we might live with them without surrendering our judgment or losing our humanity.
Over the series, we’ll explore:
📱 The Machine Next Door — What AI actually is and where it’s already embedded in ordinary life
🕵️ Trust Issues — Hallucinations, bias, deepfakes, scams, and the challenge of knowing what’s real
⚡ The Hidden Cost — Training data, human labor, creative work, energy, water, and concentrated power
🎓 Learning Curve — AI in education, productive struggle, curiosity, and the temptation to outsource learning
🎶 Human in the Loop — Music, creativity, authorship, imitation, consent, and human expression
💼 When AI Comes to Work — Employment, responsibility, dignity, judgment, and human oversight
We begin this Sunday with "The Machine Next Door", a plain-language introduction to the AI already operating behind our screens, recommendations, workplaces, services, and media.
No technical background required. Bring your curiosity, your skepticism, and your questions.
Welcome back to the empire.
