Ethically Speaking

AI and the Right to Refusal: A Panel Discussion

April 1, 2026 Eastern, by Zoom

RegisTration TBA

As the early allure of generative AI wans, we are left with a messy landscape of platforms, tools, and integrations of types of AI  each of which have deep ethical implications individually, socially, and environmentally. This cross-disciplinary panel will clarify the AI ethics landscape, thinking both about conceptual and theoretical models but also regulatory and governance models for ethical AI. Questions for panelists will emphasize the AI Ethics research landscape, and will encourage panelists and our audience to think about ethical implications not only at the research and design levels but also at societal levels about broader impacts of AI product roll out and implementation. This conversation will focus on the role of individual responsibility, the place of ethics expertise alongside technical expertise, and the right to refusal around questions of data.

Dr. Beever will facilitate the discussion among diverse panelists representing a wide range of perspectives across disciplines and faculty and student roles at the University:

• Dr. Kuebler’s emphasis is on individual responsibility and academic integrity issues around AI.  As Professor of Chemistry and Optics, he and his research students use AI algorithms to optimize photonic devices. As Associate Director in the UCF Center for Ethics, he regularly leads discussions with science and engineering students and faculty colleagues about AI ethics.

• Dr. Mason Cash is Associate Professor of Philosophy, with research interests are in philosophy and cognitive science, especially about normative practices and human cognition, and the ways these intersect with developing technologies. His teaching includes courses on ethics and technologies including AI, and the impact of technologies on the future of humanity.

• Carol Stinnett is a Ph.D. student in Texts & Technology, working on the ethics of AI in marketing contexts, both in her dissertation and professionally in industry.

• April Beer is a Master’s student in the Data Analytics AI track, interested in questions regarding AI ethics, data ownership, and the evolving governance and regulatory landscape around AI.