A Westmont Downtown Lecture will explore AI’s real-world implications in a free lecture, 5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 23 at Westmont Downtown | Keith Center, 29 W. Anapamu St., Santa Barbara.
Titled AI and Our Shared Future: Opportunities, Challenges and What’s at Stake, the talk features Mike Ryu, Westmont assistant professor of mathematics and computer science; and Reed Sheard, Westmont vice president of advancement and chief information officer.
The lecture offers insights on thoughtfully engaging with technological changes while creating new opportunities, organizers said.
No tickets or reservations required; the limited seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. For more, call (805) 565-6051.
“I’ll open with a brief introduction to AI and then examine how technologies grow exponentially,” Ryu said. “I’ll break down how much of the information surrounding AI is real and what is likely hype.”
“I’ll explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping society, education and our daily lives, not just as a tool, but as a force that’s challenging us to rethink what it means to be human,” Sheard said.
Ryu earned both a bachelor’s degree in software engineering and a master’s degree in computer science at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. He worked in the software industry in the San Francisco Bay Area as a software engineer, an agile coach and an engineering manager before coming to Westmont in 2023.
“My passion in computer science is empowering people with technology by teaching in a way that eliminates the high barrier to enter the computing field,” he said.
Sheard graduated from the University of Sioux Falls, earned a master of divinity at Fuller Theological Seminary and a doctorate in higher education leadership from Seattle University. He joined Westmont in 2008 to serve as the vice president for College Advancement and CIO.
During his tenure as leader of College Advancement, Westmont has conducted three capital campaigns, raising more than $500 million.
eCampus named Westmont’s IT department one of the top 12 in higher education, and Computerworld/IDG has named Sheard one of the top 100 IT leaders in the country. His current areas of study include Artificial Intelligence and building outstanding, productive teams.
The Westmont Foundation sponsors the talk, part of Westmont Downtown: Conversations about Things that Matter. Find parking for the lecture at Santa Barbara City Parking Lots 4 or 5.