Baruch College Symposium Explores the Complexity of AI

Baruch College Symposium Explores the Complexity of AI

March 24, 2026

Academic scholars, industry leaders, civic organizations, faculty members, and students convened at Baruch College for the Ethical A.I.ms: Addressing A.I. in Contemporary Challenges symposium, a dynamic conference examining how artificial intelligence is reshaping society-and the responsibilities that come with it.

The March 18 full-day event brought together voices from across disciplines to explore the legal, ethical, social, and policy implications of AI. Through panel discussions and audience dialogue, participants tackled pressing issues spanning higher education, business and finance, social justice, democracy, environmental sustainability, and creativity.

"Baruch is committed to integrating ethical inquiry into every field of study," said Baruch College Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Linda Essig, PhD. "Ethical AI is not a one-time policy decision-it is an ongoing practice. That makes a conference like this very timely and meaningful."

Provost Essig added, "The conversations that took place at this symposium reflect exactly what higher education must be addressing now. At Baruch, we see AI not just as a tool but as a test of our values. Our goal is to prepare students to succeed in an AI-shaped world-and to shape that world with insight, integrity, and human imagination."

Professors Elizabeth Edenberg, Yafit Lev-Aretz, and Rhiannon Neilsen - representing all of Baruch's schools - organized the event. Frank Pasquale, professor of law at Cornell Tech and Cornell Law School, served as the keynote speaker, and a fireside chat featured Minerva Tantoco, New York City's first Chief Technology Officer, who has more than 30 years of experience in enterprise technology, as a startup founder, and as a pioneer in mobile, AI, and data strategy.

Panels brought together a diverse mix of experts from academia, industry, and the public sector, alongside Baruch students presenting original research. Three Master of International Affairs students shared their work examining AI's role in social justice, democratic systems, and environmental policy-highlighting the College's emphasis on applied, real-world learning.

Empowering Our Students

"As a minority-serving institution, Baruch College is well-positioned to host conversations that focus on AI's impact on marginalized populations who can easily get overlooked in the broader social conversation and rapid adoption of AI," said Edenberg, assistant professor of philosophy at the Weissman School of Arts and Sciences.

"Our students are incredibly driven, as many come from low socioeconomic backgrounds and are often first-generation or immigrants," said Neilsen, assistant professor of international security at the Marxe School of Public and International Affairs. "We want to apply AI technologies in ways that empower our students rather than displace them. AI is transforming all aspects of our lives."

Lev-Aretz, associate professor of law at the Zicklin School of Business, noted the challenge-and opportunity-of convening such a broad range of ideas. "There's tremendous appetite for these discussions," she said, "and we're already thinking about how to expand these conversations in the future for our students, faculty, and staff."

Baruch Launches New Interdisciplinary Initiative

Ethical A.I.ms: Addressing A.I. in Contemporary Challenges was part of Baruch's annual Ethics Week that fosters dialogue through classroom discussions, guest speakers, and public programming.

This focus on sustained, cross-disciplinary engagement extends well beyond a single week of events.

It also reflects the College's growing leadership in this space through the launch of PELTA (Policy, Ethics, Law, Technology and AI)- a new interdisciplinary initiative dedicated to examining the societal impacts of AI. Through podcasts, policy briefs, and paid student research opportunities, PELTA aims to address issues such as algorithmic bias, transparency, and responsible innovation.

PELTA refers to a small, light shield (typically crescent shape), wielded by ancient Greeks and Romans. The ethos of the PELTA publication is to navigate the problems and opportunities of AI with the same agility, maneuverability, strategy, and caution: defending against bias, advocating for transparency, and pushing innovation limits. Students will have the opportunity to apply for a paid PELTA Prize ($250.00) to publish a one-to-two-page written piece on AI issues.

The symposium was supported by the Provost's Office, the Robert Zicklin Center for Corporate Integrity at Baruch College, and CUNY's Office of Academic Affairs AI Innovation Fund.