On January 13, 2026, Dr. Nathan C. Walker delivered his second keynote at the University of Kansas, this time addressing graduate and postdoctoral fellows from across the university. His lecture, Co-Intelligence: An Ethical Odyssey from Smart to Wise AI, examined the ethical implications of applying AI systems across academic disciplines and societal sectors, challenging attendees to consider whether “smart” is the highest aspiration for this century’s technological progress. In asking whether “smart” is the best we can imagine for this century’s technological advancements, Dr. Walker challenges attendees to think not only about how to build smarter machines but also about how preventing harm, promoting good, and safeguarding human dignity sets us on a path toward a wiser future.
