Thomas Feeney - AI, Philosophy, and the Future of Leadership

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Jan 5, 2026

Thomas Feeney, Associate Professor of Philosophy and AI Leadership expert, shares insights on the intersection of AI and ethics. He discusses the transformative potential of AI in reshaping job roles and the talent pipeline necessary for future work. Feeney warns of the risks AI poses to mentorship, emphasizing the irreplaceable value of human interaction in learning. He highlights the importance of integrating humanities into AI education and encourages students to be proactive and curious in their engagement with technology.

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ANECDOTE

From Leibniz To AlphaZero To ChatGPT

Thomas Feeney traced his AI interest to studying Leibniz and watching AlphaZero dominate chess.
He then read Nick Bostrom's Superintelligence and encountered ChatGPT's launch during a sabbatical, which pushed him to integrate AI into his work.

INSIGHT

Know-It-When-You-See-It Definition

Feeney gives a broad definition: AI is a machine doing what would normally require human insight and adaptability.
He emphasizes fuzzy boundaries and that we often 'know it when we see it' as capabilities advance.

INSIGHT

Generative AI As Liberated Prediction

Feeney frames generative AI as predictive AI escaping narrow confines by predicting and committing to outputs.
He treats generative models as a marked shift in the current wave of AI capabilities.

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Today, we're talking with Thomas Feeney, Associate Professor of Philosophy and Director of the Master of Arts and Artificial Intelligence Leadership at the University of St. Thomas. Thomas now leads this one-of-a-kind program, which blends technical understanding with the critical thinking, foresight, and communication needed for responsible AI leadership.

With more than a decade in academia and a foundation philosophy, he helps organizations and leaders assess AI strategic implications. Translate complex ideas into practical action. He holds a PhD from Yale University and an MA in philosophy from Notre Dame. Thank you, Thomas, for being on the program today!

If you are interested in learning about how AI is being applied across multiple industries, be sure to join us at a future AppliedAI Monthly meetup and help support us so we can make future Emerging Technologies North non-profit events!

Resources and Topics Mentioned in this Episode

How AI Is Reshaping the Talent Pipeline and Career Development – As AI transforms job roles and skills needs, leaders are rethinking how to build talent pipelines that prepare workers for the evolving world of work and help organizations compete. https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/building-a-talent-pipeline-for-the-ai-era

AI’s Critique of Higher Education and Learning Itself – A provocative analysis argues that generative AI is significantly disrupting traditional university learning, academic integrity, and the meaning of earning a degree. https://www.currentaffairs.org/news/ai-is-destroying-the-university-and-learning-itself

Partnerships Between People and AI in the Future of Work – Research highlights how AI agents, robots, and humans will collaborate in the workforce, reshaping job tasks, skills, and organizational structures. https://www.mckinsey.com/mgi/our-research/agents-robots-and-us-skill-partnerships-in-the-age-of-ai

Generative AI’s Impact on American Workers and the Future of Jobs – Analysis from a leading think tank explores what generative AI means for labor markets, outlining both risks and opportunities for workers. https://www.brookings.edu/articles/generative-ai-the-american-worker-and-the-future-of-work/

Ethical Challenges and Academic Integrity in AI-Driven Education – An overview of how AI affects learning environments, including concerns about over-reliance, accuracy, and integrity in educational settings. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_intelligence_in_education