The vision for the AI Book Club: The AI Book Club strengthens Amherst’s intellectual ecosystem by creating a mini-community that reflects AILA’s mission: bringing together people from different walks of life, professions, stages of life, and levels of AI knowledge to explore big questions through literature. By using literature as a common language, we create an accessible entry point for discussing the broader question of “what AI means.”
How does the AI Book Club improve the intellectual ecosystem of the campus community and the Amherst community in general? The Book Club enriches the Amherst community in several ways: it invites participants to hear perspectives outside of their usual circles, offers a judgment-free space where all ideas are welcome, and provides a rare opportunity at a highly competitive and prestigious institution to have intellectual conversations for fun and without fear of being “wrong.” It also fosters friendships in unexpected places, introduces participants to resources and events both on and off campus, and makes it easy for students to immerse themselves in an Amherst community activity right at their campus home.
The club is open to the entire Amherst community, including students, faculty, and staff, and provides both in-person and online engagement opportunities.
Join the mailing list: Email aila@amherst.edu to receive information and join the ongoing conversation!
Borrow books: Copies of the books are available for loan at the Jones and Frost Libraries.
Attend meetings: The club holds monthly meetings on Sunday afternoons at 2:00 in Pemberton Lounge at Amherst College during the academic year.