6 | LEHIGH ALUMNI BULLETIN | FROM THE NEST “IT’S REALLY IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT WE CAN’T PLACE ALL OUR BETS ON THE MACHINES. ... HUMAN BEINGS ARE NOT JUST MACHINES.” —Arianna Huffington In an era defined by rapid technological transformation, few topics spark as many questions as artificial intelligence. Namely, what does AI promise for our health, our economy and the future of work? How do we balance innovation with ethics, opportunity with responsibility? This academic year, Lehigh’s Compelling Perspectives program invited three influential voices to address these questions from different vantage points: Arianna Huffington, founder of the Huffington Post and founder and CEO of Thrive Global; U.S. Senator Dave McCormick of Pennsylvania; and Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple and technology entrepreneur. Though their conversations explored distinct themes such as the human side of AI, the role of government and innovation in shaping AI’s future and how technology has impacted AI, together they offered a multifaceted portrait of the challenges and possibilities that lie ahead in a society living with AI. Compelling Perspectives, launched in 2023, is designed as a forum for thoughtful, civil discourse on critical issues facing society. This academic year, the series focus was “AI: Innovation, Responsibility and the Future We Shape.” Moderated by President Joseph J. Helble ’82, the conversations are designed to bring together speakers to explore topics from various angles, based on their expertise. Arianna Huffington’s Vision for AI and Health When Arianna Huffington visited campus in November 2025, the conversation focused on how AI can help individuals build healthier habits and improve well-being. Central to her message was the idea of “microsteps,” small, manageable changes that are realistically attainable and more likely to last. These microsteps are at the core of Thrive AI Health, a company created by the OpenAI Startup Fund and Thrive Global. The company’s mission is to use AI to democratize access to expert-level health coaching to improve health outcomes. This will also address growing Arianna Huffington discussed the human side of AI during the first event in Lehigh’s 2025-2026 Compelling Perspectives series. CHRISTA NEU Shaping the Future: AI, Humanity and Innovation Compelling Perspectives speakers share viewpoints on the challenges and possibilities of AI. By Kristen DiPrinzio, Stephen Gross and Lauren Thein
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