Celebrating Author Karen Hao’s Visit to Campus

“Those who control the present, control the past and those who control the past control the future.” – 1984, George Orwell 

“AI Affects: Adoption and Resistance” Exhibit Launch and Empire of AI by Karen Hao Book Giveaway
Skillman Library Lobby
Friday, October 3rd, 10:00 AM

The American Library Association and Banned Books Week Coalition have themed Banned Books Week 2025: “Censorship Is So 1984. Read for Your Rights.” Karen Hao’s book Empire of AI —an instant New York Times bestseller — shares themes with 1984 exploring relationships between power and information. We invite students, faculty and staff to reflect on the common threads present in discussions of information,  artificial intelligence, and democracy taking place on campus this semester. 

On October 3 at 10:00am, the Libraries and the Office of the Provost will give away copies of Empire of AI by Karen Hao while supplies last. We hope you will engage the book and interact with the launch of the AI Affects: Adoption and Resistance exhibit in Skillman Library lobby (presented by the Libraries and the College Writing Program).

Librarian Janna Avon will be facilitating a student book discussion on October 7 at 4:15 PM in Skillman 003 on Chapters 4 and 9 (optional) of Empire of AI.

The Libraries and the Office of the Provost will also be convening a two-part faculty and staff reading and discussion group on October 3 (via Zoom) and October 15 (in person).

The events will culminate on October 9 at 7pm in Colton Chapel when Karen Hao presents her lecture, “Technology, Democracy and Empires of AI.” There will be a reception and book signing following the lecture.