Exploring AI and Human Dignity:

The intersection of artificial intelligence, human dignity, and communication is shaping the future, and Professor Pauline Hope Cheong is at the forefront of this critical conversation. A President’s Professor in the Hugh Downs School of Human Communication, Cheong took center stage on February 25, 2025, as an Opening Keynote Speaker at the Annual Summit of Human Dignity at Brophy College Preparatory, where she addressed more than 1,000 attendees on the evolving relationship between AI and human society.

This year’s summit, titled “What Can I Help With?” Human Dignity in the Age of AI, invited students and educators to reflect seriously on the promise and pitfalls of emerging technology. Inspired by ChatGPT’s deceptively simple prompt—“What can I help with?”—the summit asked whether AI is truly helping us in ways that support human dignity or unintentionally diminishing it. Professor Cheong’s talk challenged attendees to consider how AI can serve the common good, with insights on algorithmic bias, technological ethics, and the future of work.

Her visit was part of a broader effort to inspire high school students to think critically about technology. In early February, Professor Cheong and doctoral student Liu Liming introduced “SanTO,” a social robot designed to resemble a saint, to a local Phoenix high school. Over 750 students interacted with the AI-powered statue, with 60 students engaging in deeper discussions about robotics, ethics, and religious communication. The interactive session served not only as an introduction to AI communication but as a bridge between higher education and the high school classroom.

The Hugh Downs School of Human Communication celebrates Professor Cheong’s leadership in AI research and public engagement. Her work continues to inspire thoughtful dialogue on how emerging technologies can elevate, rather than erode, our shared humanity.