From there, we zoom out. The Declaration of Independence raises enduring questions about what makes a system legitimate: who it serves, where its authority comes from, and when it should be challenged. As AI becomes embedded in everyday life, these questions feel more relevant than ever. This talk offers a clear, accessible introduction to AI, grounded in both technical intuition and broader ideas about trust, responsibility, and human judgment.

Brinnae Bent is the Associate Director of the Society-Centered AI Initiative, the Director of the Duke TRUST Lab, and faculty in the Pratt School of Engineering at Duke University, where she teaches courses on Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity. She is a leader in bridging the gap between research and industry in machine learning, having led projects and developed algorithms for the largest companies in the world. More importantly, she has built algorithms that have meaningful impacts— from helping people walk to noninvasively monitoring glucose. Her current research explores questions like “how can explainable AI help in the conservation of endangered species?”, “how do we prevent your sleep monitor from getting hacked?”, and “how do we align AI systems with how humans think about concepts?” Dr. Bent actively contributes open-source tools and translates high-impact research into practice. Beyond research, Dr. Bent is deeply committed to education, and her education initiatives have been featured by OpenAI Academy, Backyard Brains, and CNET. She teaches advanced courses in explainable AI, deep learning, reinforcement learning, and cybersecurity, while also pioneering “K-100” outreach initiatives to bring engineering and data science to diverse audiences. She seeks to empower the next generation of thinkers who will shape ethical, impactful technology. Dr. Bent holds a BS from North Carolina State University and an MS and PhD from Duke University.

Rather than offering a narrowly technical account, this lecture invites a broader reflection on how medicine has tried to bring order to the uncertainty of illness. Why have doctors and scientists repeatedly turned to new tools in the hope of making care more accurate, more rational, and more humane? What has been gained, and what has been lost, along the way?

The second half of the talk turns to the present moment. It offers a balanced introduction to modern medical AI, including its genuine strengths, its important limitations, and the risks of relying on it too easily. The session will conclude with practical suggestions for how older adults can use AI tools to better understand health information, prepare for medical visits, and take a more active role in their own care.

Adam Rodman is a general internis­­­t and medical educator at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School. He is the Director of AI Programs for the Carl J. Shapiro Center for Education and Research, and he leads the steering group for integration of AI into the medical school curriculum. He is also an associate editor at NEJM AI, as well as a visiting researcher at Google DeepMind. His research focuses on medical education, clinical reasoning, integration of digital technologies, and human-computer interaction, especially with AI. His first book is entitled Short Cuts: Medicine, and he is the host of the American College of Physicians podcast Bedside Rounds. 

Adam completed his residency in internal medicine at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, OR, and his fellowship in global health at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center while practicing in Molepolole, Botswana. He lives in Boston with his wife and two young sons.

Dan Reicher is an entrepreneur, investor, lawyer, policymaker, and educator whose work focuses on clean energy and climate change. He has served three U.S. presidents, testified before Congress more than 50 times, led Google’s climate and clean energy initiatives, and oversaw a $1.2 billion annual clean energy research and development budget as U.S. Assistant Secretary of Energy. He has also held leadership roles at Stanford, Dartmouth, and in renewable energy finance, including co-founding the nation’s first investment firm focused exclusively on renewable energy project finance. Reicher holds degrees from Dartmouth and Stanford and has been widely recognized for his influence in U.S. clean energy policy and innovation.

Patrick Wheeler serves as Executive Director of the Center for Digital Strategies at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth, where he has established himself as a pioneering force in artificial intelligence education and technology leadership development. As an early advocate for AI education in business schools, Wheeler launched Dartmouth's first generative AI programming in early 2022 and co-created Tuck's inaugural AI-focused course in 2023. He founded and leads the Dartmouth AI Conference, now entering its fourth year in 2026 as it celebrates the 70th anniversary of AI being established as a field at Dartmouth, growing from 150 to 400 attendees.

Wheeler's teaching philosophy emphasizes that organizations must fundamentally rethink their strategy and operations for AI rather than simply applying it for efficiency gains—a perspective informed by his experience navigating the early internet transformation and cloud revolution. He leads comprehensive AI education initiatives teaching MBA students and undergraduates, conducting hands-on workshops where students build technology products using AI tools, and developing practical applications. Since 2018, he has educated hundreds of participants through programming that combines theoretical understanding with practical strategy development.

Wheeler's impact extends beyond campus through his advisory work on AI strategy with CEOs, private sector organizations, and federal government entities. He frequently moderates panels at industry conferences and has facilitated discussions with experts from organizations including Anthropic, Microsoft, Google, and OpenAI. His ability to forge meaningful partnerships has resulted in collaborative research with Google and immersive learning experiences in technology ecosystems worldwide.

Prior to joining Tuck, Wheeler built a diverse career spanning consulting, technology, and innovation across four continents. At CEB (now Gartner), he created a low-code e-learning product that generated multi-million dollar revenue within its first year. He also served as a trusted aide to U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), then Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Wheeler holds a BA in Political Science from St. Michael's College. His areas of expertise include artificial intelligence strategy, digital transformation, technology education, and strategic program development.

Michèle Flournoy is Co-Founder and Managing Partner of WestExec Advisors and Co-Founder and Chair of the Center for a New American Security (CNAS). She served as Under Secretary of Defense for Policy from 2009 to 2012, where she was the principal advisor to the Secretary of Defense on national security and defense policy and led development of the Department of Defense’s 2012 Strategic Guidance. Flournoy has also held leadership roles on numerous boards and advisory groups in national security, defense, and public policy. She holds degrees from Harvard University and Balliol College, Oxford.

Walter Sinnott-Armstrong is Chauncey Stillman Distinguished Professor of Practical Ethics at Duke University, with appointments in philosophy, law, psychology, and neuroscience. A former Dartmouth professor, he is a widely published scholar whose work focuses on ethics, moral psychology, and moral artificial intelligence. He has written numerous books and articles, including Morality Without God?, Think Again, and Moral AI and How We Get There. He also co-teaches the popular Coursera course Think Again, which has reached more than a million learners.