Core Teacher Michael DeWilde is back this week as we continue the series Empire of Screens Part II.

We’ll look at some of the arguments – and evidence – for and against the notion that certain AI systems could be, or become, “conscious.”  How might that even be possible?  What would it look like? What would the implications of a “conscious” AI be?

This week in Empire of Screens, we’ll look at the uneasy space between hype and outright distrust. From AI-generated research slipping through peer review to systems that can ace difficult tests and still stumble over basic context, we’ll examine AI terms like "jagged intelligence," hallucinations, and the widening verification gap.

This opening talk offers a plain-language explanation of what AI is, what it isn’t, and why it matters even to people who never plan to chat with a bot. We’ll trace the shift from hidden algorithms that sort our lives to generative tools that make things alongside us.

Reverend Ginny Mikita returns to C3 this week to share her insights on pilgrimage. Pilgrimage is supposed to be about finding your way. But some of its greatest gifts come from getting a little lost.

Celebrate unhurried attention, simple pleasures, and idle moments that don’t need to justify their existence.

This week, we welcome Core Teacher, Beth Buelow. Inspired by the wise words of a single poet, we're going to look to eight of their verses and pick up their invitation to loosen the reins and unpack a little of life's baggage.

In our final week of Summer of Sound, we’re exploring music as a healing modality. We’ll look at what the science suggests, how therapists and medical practitioners are using music, and how we can use songs and sounds to help regulate our own nervous systems and cultivate greater peace, empathy, and well-being.

Brad returns with stories, pictures, and a Rocky Mountain high. The mountains supplied the scenery, but their soundtrack kept stealing the show.

As part of our series, Sound of Summer, Michael DeWilde will share a conversation about Marvin Gaye’s seminal 1971 album, “What’s Going On”. The album broke ground lyrically, musically, and politically. Michael will discuss the album along with its lasting effect on a kid - and kids - growing up on the outskirts of Detroit.

Folias Duo is the celebrated pairing of flutist Carmen Maret and guitarist Andrew Bergeron are renowned for their seamless fusion of classical, jazz, world music, and improvisation. Their original compositions, inspired by life on the road and the beauty of the natural world, transport audiences with vivid storytelling through music.