A panel of faculty members and a student in the fields of politics, philosophy and national security will hold a discussion on "Artificial Intelligence and the Ethics of Future Warfare" on Thursday, Oct. 5, at 4:30 p.m. in the James J. Johnson Auditorium at Coastal Carolina University. The Tea & Ethics event, hosted by the Jackson Family Center for Ethics and Values at CCU, is free and open to the public.

The panel is composed of Jonathan Acuff, CCU assistant professor of politics; Jonathan Smith, CCU professor of politics and director of the Intelligence and National Security program; Jonathan Trerise, associate professor of philosophy and religious studies; and Nicholas Smith, Jackson Scholar in the Jackson Center.

The discussion will explore questions such as: Is it ethical to use drone and AI warfare? Who holds moral responsibility when using AI as a weapon: the soldier using the device or the commander who gave the order? Should we make drone warfare universal to reduce the risk and loss of human life?

"With artificial intelligence becoming a growing field, it's important to look at the ethical implications within the countries using this technology," said Jonathan Smith.

Tea & Ethics has been the flagship event series of the Jackson Family Center for Ethics and Values since 2004. The Jackson Center aims to cultivate ethical awareness in the community through programs and events fostering inclusive conversations on important contemporary ethical issues.

The Johnson Auditorium is located in Room 116 of the E. Craig Wall Sr. College of Business Administration at 119 Chanticleer Drive E. on CCU's main campus. Parking is available in lot R, outside the Brittain Building and adjacent to the Wall Building; for more information, visit coastal.edu/safety/parking.

For more information or any questions regarding the event, contact Nils Rauhut, professor of philosophy and director of the Jackson Center, at nrauhut@coastal.edu or 843-349-2547.