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Brown University Library News

Critical AI Learning Community – Spring 2026

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illustration with blue background and yellow humanoid alien-like figure holding up one hand with three fingers and wireless earphones. Green grass along the bottom and an open book. Library logo in the bottom left corner and this text at top: Join the Critical AI Learning Community Mondays at noon @ the Rock

The Library’s Critical AI Learning Community (CAILC) meets bi-monthly during the spring and fall semesters on Mondays at noon in the Sidney E. Frank Digital Studio on the first floor of the Rockefeller Library. The meetings will take place bi-monthly alternating between in-person only and hybrid meetings.

All members of the Brown community are welcome to attend. Lunch is provided on a first come, first served basis for in-person attendees.

Register to Attend

Please register to attend for both in-person and online attendance.

Spring 2026 Schedule

  • March 2, 2026: AI as a Thought Partner: a Discussion with Dr. Michael Satlow, Professor of Religious Studies and Judaic Studies (Hybrid)
  • March 16, 2026: Casual Conversations (In-person only) 
  • April 6, 2026: AI in Humanities Research (Hybrid)
  • April 20, 2026: Recursive Learning: a Year-End Reflection (Hybrid)

What is the Critical AI Learning Community?

CAILC is a participant-led learning community where students, faculty, and staff meet to explore and critique artificial intelligence technology and its implications for learners and researchers throughout the Brown community. Learners of all levels and backgrounds are encouraged to share their experiences, questions, and ideas.

Goals

The goals for this community include:

  • Become familiar with key concepts and terminology related to artificial intelligence
  • Learn the basics of using generative AI tools
  • Develop skills for evaluating and critiquing AI technology
  • Explore emergent applications of AI technology
  • Develop an understanding of the opportunities and drawbacks posed by AI technology
  • Explore opportunities for applying critical pedagogy and critical information literacy to our understanding of AI

Community Driven

We shape this community together! The CAILC aims to center issues related to power and social justice, and to explore engagement with the structures that shape our experiences at Brown and in higher education. We encourage all participants to also be contributors — to help design, inquire, and share throughout our lunchtime meetings. Our hope is that participants will discuss and propose their own ideas and share in the stewardship of this respectful, inclusive, and generative space.

Engaging Speakers and Conversations 

The meetings alternate between invited speakers or discussions that explore specific themes in AI, and casual participant led, small group conversations. Past themes have included AI, Surveillance and the Military; Exploring Facial Recognition Technology; Building AI for Citizenship Surveillance; Human and System Bias in AI Tools; AI in Medical Education at Brown; and Teaching AI in the Context of Information Literacy.  

The goal of the casual conversations is to provide a low-stakes space to explore AI in the context of higher education generally, and Brown University specifically. The conversations focus on practical skills, critical thinking, ethical issues, and social impact. These conversations are an opportunity to ask questions and to learn from one another. You’re welcome to bring your own conversation topics!

Want to know more, or do you have a theme to suggest?
Share it with the team at lorna_dawes@brown.edu.

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