FedEx Institute of Technology
Technology Serving Humanity Speaker Series
Since its launch in Fall 2021, the Technology Serving Humanity speaker series has brought leading voices from around the world to the University of Memphis to explore how technology shapes — and is shaped by — humanity.
In an age of rapid innovation and unprecedented disruption, this ongoing public lecture series examines the social, political, philosophical, and humanistic dimensions of technological change. Each conversation invites audiences to look beyond the technology itself and consider its deeper implications for individuals, communities, and the world we share.
Faculty members interested in nominating a speaker with a national or international academic reputation are encouraged to share their suggestions with Dr. Srikar Velichety, Assistant Professor in Business Information and Technology. Dr. Velichety is leading the series effort and can be reached at svlchety@memphis.edu.
Upcoming Speakers
Professor of Decision, Operations & Information Technologies
University of Maryland
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"AI in Business & Society: Capabilities, Building Systems & Governance"
This talk will focus on the capabilities of modern AI - what led to the capabilities we are seeing, what are some of the big opportunities and challenges in front of us, and how should we think about managing and governing AI in businesses today. The talk will conclude by examining questions about the future of work for humans in the age of AI and offer some recommendations for individuals, business leaders, policy makers and universities in this context.
Nov. 13 | 3 PM (CST)
Methodist Presentation Theatre (103)
Tune In and Join the Conversation
Many of our events are featured on the Technology Serving Humanity podcast — available on Spotify, as well as YouTube, iHeartRadio, and Amazon Music.
Past Speakers
See who has visited the FedEx Institute of Technology, a collection of scholars and innovators from across the United States and abroad. These guest speakers offer profound insights and expertise in their respective fields. Explore their impactful contributions and delve into the wealth of knowledge they've shared with our campus community.
ERC Professor / Emeritus Professor
Rachel Carson Center for Environment and Society, Ludwig Maximilian University / University of Wisconsin-Madison
"Ebola in a Stew of Fear"
Cornelius Tilghman Professor of English
University of Delaware
“The Praxis of Environmental Justice: Working Ethically with University Students and Community Partners”
Paul R. Anderson Professor
Fox School of Business and Management at Temple University
"AI-Driven Supply Chain Analytics"
Bernard T. Ferrari Professor
Johns Hopkins Carey Business School
"Johns Hopkins Drug Supply Chain Data Dashboard: Improving Data Transparency and Increasing Resiliency in the U.S. Pharmaceutical Supply Chain"
Professor of Supply Chain Management
Penn State University
"Redesigning Harvesting Processes and Improving Working Conditions in Agribusiness"
Assistant Professor at the College of Computing
Georgia Tech
"Hatred in Online Communities & the Ethics of AI"
Charles J. Dockendorff Endowed Chair Isenberg School of Management
University of Massachusetts Amherst
"Implementing Transparency in Machine Learning Applications"
Professor of Management in the Warrington College of Business
University of Florida
"Responsible AI: The Interplay between Algorithms, Data, People, and Policy"
Kingland Systems Faculty Fellow in Business Analytics; Associate Professor of Information Systems and Business Analytics, Ivy College of Business
Iowa State University
"Future of Work in the Age of AI"
Chair Professor, School of Creative Media
City University of Hong Kong
"Collective Intelligence in the Age of AI"
Professor and Chair, Department of Sociology
Tufts University
"Democracy and Digital Hate: The Price We Pay for Online Abuse and Harassment"
University Distinguished Research Professor of Philosophy and Psychology
University of Cincinnati
"Do smart devices make us less smart?"
Endowed Chair; Director of the Religion and Public Life Program
Rice University
"Understanding Interactions Between Religious and Scientific Communities to Increase Diversity in Science"
Canada Research Chair (Tier II) in Science and Society
University of Ottawa
"Immaculate conception of data: agribusiness, activists and their shared politics of the future"
Distinguished Research Professor of Literature
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
"Data Storytelling and African American Poetry"
Associate Professor
Annenberg School for Communication
"Social and Algorithmic Choices in the Curation of Information"
Professor and Chair, Anthropology and Director of the Environment Arts & Humanities Program
The University of the South Sewanee
“Biocultural Diversity, Ritual Landscapes and Citizen Science at Ireland’s Holy Wells” (Podcast)
Professor; David Eccles Emerging Scholar
University of Utah
“Applied AI: From Industry Practice to Business School Partnerships”
Fisher Distinguished Professor of Operations & Sr. Associate Dean
Max M. Fisher College of Business at Ohio State University
"Responsible AI for Effective Governance"
Associate Professor, Supply Chain and Operations
Carlson School of Management
"Towards Advancing Women's Health in Least Developed Countries: Evaluating Contraceptive Distribution Models in Senegal"
Fletcher Jones Chair of Technology Design & Management, Center for Information Systems & Technology (CISAT)
Claremont Graduate University
"Innovating with AI for Social Good: Towards Human Flourishing and Artificial Consciousness"
Professor of Computer Information Systems
Bentley University
"Technology for Social Good"
Assistant Professor of Philosophy, Academic Co-Director, CARE-AI; Faculty Affiliate, One Health Institute
University of Guelph
"Persons or data points"
Associate Professor in Writing, Rhetoric, Digital Studies
University of Kentucky
"Gaming by another name: The Racialization of Play in the Digital Era"
Ford Professor of Political Science
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
"Platform Power"
Associate Professor of Communication Studies
Northwestern University
"Can we have an ethical internet?"
Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor of Philosophy; Director, Humanities Institute; Director, New England Humanities Consortium
University of Connecticut
"Social Media and Bald Face Lies"
Associate Professor of Philosophy; Director, Ethics, Artificial Intelligence & Big Data
Florida International University
"Egalitarian Machine Learning"
Professor of Philosophy and Decision Theory; Co-Director, Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy
Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich
"Group Agency and Artificial Intelligence"
Professor of Law
American University Washington College of Law
"Surveillance and the Tvrant Test: How to Respond to the Threat of Big Data Policing"
Ernest A. Sharpe Centennial Professor
University of Texas at Austin
"Designing Artificial Intelligence for Racial Justice"