Conference Review: AI Hopes, Fears, and Realities: An Interdisciplinary Dialogue
The Conference, titled "AI Hopes, Fears, and Realities: An Interdisciplinary Dialogue," organized by the MEEET-Lab-Team as part of the URPP, took place from July 1–2, 2025, at the University of Zurich. The event brought together scholars and practitioners from different international contexts (Europe, Japan, USA, Australia) and across disciplines to examine the profound impacts of artificial intelligence on society, religion, theology, ethics, and culture.
The conference opened with a public panel on June 30th: “AI Jesus, Robot Priests and Us.” Featuring Gabriele Trovato, Philipp Haslbauer, and Kristina Eiviler, this engaging session involved the « presence » of the robots DarumaTO and CelesTE, drawing significant interest in the audience.
The first day of the conference started with an introduction by Beth Singler, co-director of the URPP, to the themes and the interdisciplinary aims of the conference, and to the paradigm shift in perceptions of AI that we have seen over the past ten years (available here). The first keynote was by Gabriele Trovato, exploring Canon Law and religious robotics. This was followed by a panel on Technological Realities, where speakers addressed algorithmic writing, platform capitalism, AI in religious practices, and medical authority in AI contexts. The second thematic unit started with a keynote by Pauline Hope Cheong on the paradoxes of AI-mediated learning, followed by Panel Two: Narratives in Society, examining Techno-Optimism, The Concept of Immortality, Algorithmic Resistance Strategies of Muslim-Interpreted Pro-Palestine Activists in Switzerland and Algorithmic Aesthetics in Hindu Digital Publics.
Day Two featured a keynote by Robert Geraci on AI engineering and the perspective of existential risk and salvation promises. Panel Three focused on theological responses to AI across Islamic, Catholic, and Protestant contexts. The final keynote, delivered by Victoria Lorrimar, reflected on awe and anxiety in AI futures. Panel Four tackled ethical and philosophical perspectives, from AI moral reasoning to metaphysical questions and ideological critiques.
The presenters noted that AI is increasingly capable of meeting emotional, cognitive, and even spiritual needs, raising questions about authority, tradition, and the future of religious practice. However, concerns were also raised about the overestimation of AI’s future capabilities and the seductive allure of techno-utopian visions, which could threaten personal freedom and propagate biased moral frameworks. Key philosophical and ethical questions were posed regarding human agency, justice, and the purpose behind AI applications, urging critical reflection on AI’s role in shaping meaning and hope.
The closing summary of the conference by Thomas Schlag as the director of the URPP by highlighted the transformative impact of AI across individual, institutional, and political domains, emphasizing both the vast creative potential and the serious ethical and societal risks involved.
The conference concluded by stressing the need for interdisciplinary collaboration, public engagement, and ethical responsibility in research and communication. Through engaging discussions, the conference successfully bridged disciplinary gaps and deepened collective understanding of AI’s emerging role in contemporary human life.
