The Rise and Reckoning of AI | 2026 Isaac Asimov Memorial Debate

Artificial intelligence is reshaping every dimension of modern life, from scientific discovery and creative expression to national security, data governance, and global policy. As breakthroughs in fields such as natural language processing, statistical inference, biotechnology, and large‑scale computation accelerate, so too do urgent questions about AI’s impact on society. #ai #artificialintelligence #futuretech #neildegrassetyson In this Asimov Debate, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Frederick P. Rose Director of the Hayden Planetarium, convenes a uniquely interdisciplinary panel of pioneers: leaders in machine learning research, AI ethics, national security technology, data‑privacy law, statistical theory, and long‑term AI safety. This year's panelists include Latanya Sweeney of Harvard University, Kate Crawford of the University of Southern California, Chris Callison-Burch of the University of Pennsylvania, Cynthia Rush of Columbia University, Nate Soares of the Machine Intelligence Research Institute, and Eric Schmidt, the former CEO and Chairman of Google. Together, they will examine how AI is transforming scientific practice, altering geopolitical power, challenging legal and ethical frameworks, and raising fundamental questions about human agency and control. From the material infrastructure behind AI systems to issues of copyright, fairness, labor, privacy, and existential risk, these experts will debate the promises, pitfalls, and perils of an increasingly algorithmic world and explore what it will take to guide AI development responsibly for the future of humanity. The late Dr. Isaac Asimov, one of the most prolific and influential authors of our time, was a dear friend and supporter of the American Museum of Natural History. In his memory, the Hayden Planetarium is honored to host the annual Isaac Asimov Memorial Debate—generously endowed by relatives, friends, and admirers of Isaac Asimov and his work—bringing the finest minds in the world to the Museum each year to debate pressing questions on the frontier of scientific discovery. *** Subscribe to our channel: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_c... Check out our full video catalog: amnhorg This video and all media incorporated herein (including text, images, and audio) are the property of the American Museum of Natural History or its licensors, all rights reserved. The Museum has made this video available for your personal, educational use. You may not use this video, or any part of it, for commercial purposes, nor may you reproduce, distribute, publish, prepare derivative works from, or publicly display it without the prior written consent of the Museum. © American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY