Language Machines – Roberto Simanowski as a Guest Speaker

Media philosopher and Internet expert Roberto Simanowski will be a guest speaker on Thursday, July 2, at 8:15 p.m. on the University campus Freiburg (Platz der Universität 3, Lecture Hall 1015) as part of the series “Life in the Anthropocene.”

In his lecture, which will also be livestreamed, Simanowski will discuss his book *Sprachmaschinen. Philosophie der Künstlichen Intelligenz* (Language Machines: A Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence), published in 2025. In it, he examines the consequences of the rapid expansion of AI systems such as ChatGPT and Gemini. He asks how these technologies are changing the way we read, write, and think; whether they influence our opinions; and to what extent they might supplant human decision-making. Following the lecture, Simanowski will discuss his theses with Christian Dries from the Günther Anders Research Center at the University campus Freiburg.

The topic is also relevant to the series “Life in the Anthropocene” because AI opens up far-reaching possibilities for intervening in the natural foundations of life. The event explores the question of whether the development of intelligent machines marks a new turning point in the Anthropocene.

The series is organized by the Catholic Academy of Freiburg in cooperation with the Günther Anders Research Center, the Studium Generale at the University campus Freiburg, and Theater Freiburg.

Admission is free. Registration is not required.