AI-generated text used to be easy to spot. It was unpolished, awkward, and it often made no sense. These days it not only passes as human, it can seem better than the real thing. Across the world, people are turning to tools like ChatGPT and Claude for friendship, therapy, and romantic connection. In this context, widespread beliefs about what makes speech and writing meaningful start to seem doubtful. If we can be deeply affected by machines that have no feelings themselves, we're forced to ask: where does meaning come from in the first place?

“Do Words Still Mean Things?: Language and Communication After AI” explores this question from several angles. First, we use game-based thought experiments to clarify our assumptions about how communication and intention work, and what’s going on when they break down. From there, an interactive seminar adds context to the discussion, emphasizing historical and current research from philosophers, cultural theorists, cognitive scientists, and technologists. Our touchstone is the ongoing “AI culture wars,” where being “pro” or “anti” AI takes on political importance. Giving credit to both sides of the debate, we also emphasize lesser-known perspectives that offer a unique alternative framing. If you work with AI, have strong feelings about it, or don’t know how to begin thinking about it, this event is for you. By the end of the evening, we’ll have a new conceptual toolkit to help us stay grounded and clear-headed as this technology evolves.

1. At the beginning, participants are guided through structured thought experiments. These can be done with others or as a solo exercise, and participants have the option to share their answers or not. Pen and paper will be provided.

2. We will then have an interactive presentation built around big-picture questions related to AI, language, and communication.

3. We end with a candid conversation about how AI is impacting creativity, relationships, and work, making connections to ideas and examples explored throughout the evening.

Emma Stamm

Emma Stamm is a writer and professor with a background in philosophy and the social study of science and technology (STS). She holds a PhD in Interdisciplinary Studies from Virginia Tech and has taught courses on the philosophy and social implications of AI at Virginia Tech; New York University; Villanova University; and Bard College Microcolleges. As a public-facing scholar, she has written for Vice Motherboard, Real Life Mag, and Communications of the Association for Computing Machinery, in addition to co-hosting the LEPHT HAND podcast. She is the co-founder and Executive Director of the Lenox Institute for Advanced Study, which makes critical science and tech education accessible beyond academia.

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