Low-angle portrait of Alan Liu wearing an orange zip-up sweater and jeans, standing on outdoor concrete stairs with his arms crossed, smiling and looking off into the distance against a blue sky.
January 22, 2026

Distinguished Professor Emeritus Alan Liu explores how society’s definitions of truth, creativity and values must evolve as artificial intelligence weaves into the fabric of daily life.

“Is AI true, accurate or creative?” These are the questions driving the modern debate on artificial intelligence. Alan Liu, UC Santa Barbara’s 2024–2025 Faculty Research Lecturer, argues against rushing to instant judgment. Instead, he suggests society needs patience to see how these technologies will eventually weave into our social fabric before we can truly define their "virtue." Liu will explore these evolving values in his upcoming talk at the Corwin Pavilion on Feb. 9 from 4–6 p.m. Read the full story on The Current.

Photo Credit: Matt Perko