Programme
(A) Sociological, Anthropological and Religious Studies Approaches to AI and Religion
Wednesday, 16 September 2020, 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM CEST
4:00 - 4:15 PM Welcome
Marco Ventura (FBK); Paolo Traverso (FBK)
4:15 - 4:35 PM Introduction to the Webinar Series
Boris Rähme (FBK)
4:35 - 5:00 PM Interacting with and within the Artificial
Yaqub Chaudhary (Independent Researcher)
5:00 - 5:25 PM Moderated Discussion
5:25 - 5:30 PM Conclusion
Chair: Boris Rähme (FBK)
Wednesday, 30 September 2020, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM CEST
4:00 - 4:05 PM Introduction
4:05 - 4:30 PM "Blessed by the Algorithm": Religious Conceptions of AI and Their Impact on Society
Beth Singler (University of Cambridge)
4:30 - 4:55 PM Moderated Discussion
4:55 - 5:00 PM Conclusion
Chair: Margherita Galassini (FBK)
Wednesday, 14 October 2020, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM CEST
4:00 - 4:05 PM Introduction
4:05 - 4:30 PM 'Things Greater than Thou': AI and a Technical Re-enchantment of the World
Stef Aupers (KU Leuven)
4:30 - 4:55 PM Moderated Discussion
4:55 - 5:00 PM Conclusion
Chair: Dominik Balazka (FBK)
Wednesday, 4 November 2020, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM CET
4:00 - 4:05 PM Introduction
4:05 - 4:30 PM Magic of AI, AI for Magic? Magical Thinking Practices and Digital Age: Remarks for an Opening Field of Study
Lionel Obadia (University of Lyon 2 and French National Research Agency)
4:30 - 4:55 PM Moderated Discussion
4:55 - 5:00 PM Conclusion
Chair: Boris Rähme (FBK)
Wednesday, 11 November 2020, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM CET
4:00 - 4:05 PM Introduction
4:05 - 4:30 PM Algorithms as Formations Analogous to Religion: Discourses and Materialities
Inken Prohl (University of Heidelberg)
4:30 - 4:55 PM Moderated Discussion
4:55 - 5:00 PM Conclusion
Chair: Margherita Galassini (FBK)
Wednesday, 25 November 2020, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM CET
4:00 - 4:05 PM Introduction
4:05 - 4:30 PM The Android and the Fax: AI and Buddhism in Contemporary Japan
Erica Baffelli (University of Manchester)
4:30 - 4:55 PM Moderated Discussion
4:55 - 5:00 PM Conclusion
Chair: Boris Rähme (FBK)
(B) Utopian and Dystopian Techno-Futures: AI, Transhumanism, and Religion
Wednesday, 9 December 2020, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM CET
4:00 - 4:05 PM Introduction
4:05 - 4:30 PM God, the Singularity and the Transcendent Superintelligence: Philosophical Contexts of the Transhumanist Utopia
Oliver Krüger (University of Fribourg)
4:30 - 4:55 PM Moderated Discussion
4:55 - 5:00 PM Conclusion
Chair: Margherita Galassini (FBK)
Wednesday, 13 January 2021, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM CET
4:00 - 4:05 PM Introduction
4:05 - 4:30 PM Technological Give-and-Take: Religions of AI in Indian Science and Engineering
Robert Geraci (Manhattan College)
4:30 - 4:55 PM Moderated Discussion
4:55 - 5:00 PM Conclusion
Chair: Boris Rähme (FBK)
Wednesday, 27 January 2021, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM CET
4:00 - 4:05 PM Introduction
4:05 - 4:30 PM Human Dignity after the Human
Zachary Calo (Hamad Bin Khalifa University)
4:30 - 4:55 PM Moderated Discussion
4:55 - 5:00 PM Conclusion
Chair: Matteo Corsalini (FBK)
(C) Values and AI: Machines, Ethics, and Religion
Wednesday, 10 February 2021, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM CET
4:00 - 4:05 PM Introduction
4:05 - 4:30 PM Morality and AI
Nachum Dershowitz (Tel Aviv University)
4:30 - 4:55 PM Moderated Discussion
4:55 - 5:00 PM Conclusion
Chair: Oliviero Stock (FBK), Boris Rähme (FBK)
Wednesday, 24 February 2021, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM CET
4:00 - 4:05 PM Introduction
4:05 - 4:30 PM Was Blumer Right? Religious Values and Quantified Self in the Petabyte Age
Dominik Balazka (State University of Milan ), joint work with Dario Rodighiero (MIT and Harvard University)
4:30 - 4:55 PM Moderated Discussion
4:55 - 5:00 PM Conclusion
Chair: Boris Rähme (FBK)
Wednesday, 10 March 2021, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM CET
4:00 - 4:05 PM Introduction
4:05 - 4:30 PM Artificial Intelligence and Religion
Yorick Wilks (University of Sheffield)
4:30 - 4:55 PM Moderated Discussion
4:55 - 5:00 PM Conclusion
Chair: Boris Rähme (FBK)
Wednesday, 24 March 2021, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM CET
4:00 - 4:05 PM Introduction
4:05 - 4:30 PM Using multi-agent AI to predict and prevent religious conflict
LeRon Shults (University of Agder)
4:30 - 4:55 PM Moderated Discussion
4:55 - 5:00 PM Conclusion
Chair: Boris Rähme (FBK)
Wednesday, 21 April 2021, 4:00 PM - 5:15 PM CEST
4:00 - 4:05 PM Introduction
4:05 - 4:30 PM Short statements on directions for future research in AI and religion
Margherita Galassini (Independent Researcher), Robert Geraci (Manhattan College), Oliver Krüger (University of Fribourg), Massimo Leone (University of Turin), Inken Prohl (University of Heidelberg)
4:30 - 5:10 PM Panel discussion
Chair: Boris Rähme (FBK)
5:10 - 5:15 PM Conclusion of the Webinar Series: Marco Ventura (FBK), Boris Rähme (FBK)