PAU Masterclass Opens 50th Anniversary Celebration Week with a Conversation About the Future of Humans and AI

PALO ALTO, Calif. | June 8, 2026 - As Palo Alto University began its 50th Anniversary Celebration Week, students, alumni, faculty, staff, trustees, and community members came together to explore a question that feels increasingly relevant in an era of rapid technological change:

As artificial intelligence becomes more capable, what remains uniquely human?

That question anchored the PAU Masterclass, The Future of Humans and AI, featuring PAU Trustees Jessica DiVento Dzuban, PsyD, Sanjeev Agrawal, MS, and Tomer Weingarten. Moderated by PAU President Dr. Farouk Dey, the discussion brought together students, alumni, faculty, staff, and community members to examine the opportunities, challenges, and responsibilities that accompany one of the most transformative technological shifts of our time.

While artificial intelligence served as the focus of the conversation, the discussion ultimately centered on people.

Drawing from their experiences across technology, healthcare, mental health, and cybersecurity, the panelists explored how AI is already reshaping the way people work, learn, communicate, and access information. They also challenged attendees to consider how society can embrace innovation while preserving the qualities that remain uniquely human.

Rather than debating whether AI will change society, the panel explored how people can shape its use responsibly. The discussion considered AI's potential to accelerate research, improve access to information, and expand opportunities across industries, while emphasizing that technology alone cannot replace critical thinking, ethical judgment, or human connection.

As AI becomes more integrated into everyday life, the discussion emphasized the need to thoughtfully evaluate not only what technology can do, but how it should be used.

That perspective was particularly relevant for a university dedicated to advancing human understanding.

The panel explored the role artificial intelligence may play in mental health, education, healthcare, and professional practice, while recognizing that some aspects of human experience cannot be replicated by technology alone. While AI may support research, streamline processes, and improve access to information, meaningful human relationships continue to rely on empathy, trust, ethical reasoning, and lived experience.

Throughout the evening, panelists returned to the importance of critical thinking, ethical decision-making, and human connection. As technology continues to evolve, these qualities remain essential for navigating complexity, building relationships, and applying knowledge in meaningful ways.

For Palo Alto University, those ideas resonate deeply. For fifty years, the university has prepared students to understand people, address complex challenges, and improve lives through education, research, and service. While the tools and technologies available to future professionals may continue to change, the need for human understanding remains constant.

The discussion also highlighted opportunities for research, innovation, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Panelists encouraged institutions of higher education to remain actively engaged in conversations about emerging technologies and to help prepare future professionals to navigate both the opportunities and challenges they present.

As attendees continued conversations during the reception that followed, many reflected on both the promise and the responsibility that accompany advances in artificial intelligence. While AI will undoubtedly influence the future of healthcare, education, mental health, and countless other fields, the discussion underscored a simple but important truth: technology is most powerful when guided by human judgment, informed by ethical considerations, and used in service of people.

As Palo Alto University looks toward its next fifty years, conversations like this reflect both the institution's history and its future. While technology will continue to reshape the way we live and work, PAU remains committed to preparing leaders who can pair innovation with empathy, evidence with ethics, and technological advancement with a deep understanding of what it means to be human.

See More Celebration Week Highlights (Coming Soon)