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Hosted by AltLiberalArts

Part 2: The Liberal Arts as Civic Infrastructure

This second lecture confronts 𝐀𝐈-𝐄𝐧𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥’𝐬 (𝐀𝐈𝐑𝐂) most dangerous insight: humans do not process information purely rationally-we seek belonging, meaning, and coherence. AIRC exploits this by simulating community consensus through networks of false amplifiers, weaponizing our social instincts. In response, this session argues that 𝐥𝐢𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐈𝐑𝐂 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐲 𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐧: critical scrutiny of apparent consensus, ethical reasoning about power and interest, cross-cultural literacy, and epistemic humility. Participants engage with practical pedagogies that help students recognize manipulated information environments and develop the reflexive awareness needed to resist reflexive control.

Dr. Jacob Udo-Udo Jacob is Founding Executive Director of the Global Centre for Rehumanising Democracy (GCRD), where he leads initiatives including the Democracy Discourse Index, Disinformation Observatory, and civic renewal programs. His recent research on AI-Enhanced Reflexive Control, including analysis of Russia’s Pravda network in Bulgaria (co-authored with Georgi Angelov), reveals how artificial intelligence transforms Soviet-era psychological warfare into systematic manipulation of vulnerable democracies. His work spans peace journalism in conflict zones, communication for social change with UNICEF and the UN, and globally connected pedagogy linking students across continents. A scholar and a Benedictine Spiritual Director, Dr. Jacob brings both technical expertise and personal urgency to questions of democracy’s survival and education’s role in defending democracy.