At an Innovate Carolina Signature Series event held at the Innovate Carolina Junction, UNC-Chapel Hill faculty experts explored one of today’s most pressing questions: should we be worried about artificial intelligence? Framed around seven key questions, the discussion offered a balanced view of AI’s transformative potential and its risks
Panelists from Kenan-Flagler Business School, the Department of Philosophy and School of Information and Library Science explained how generative AI differs from traditional AI by creating new content and interacting in more human-like ways, marking a major shift from earlier technologies. Unlike past innovations, modern AI has the potential to overcome human cognitive limitations, which could lead to unprecedented progress—or unintended consequences.
The experts emphasized that AI is less likely to eliminate jobs outright and more likely to reshape roles, especially in customer-facing functions like marketing and sales. They highlighted the importance of human-centered skills—such as judgment, adaptability and emotional intelligence—as enduring competitive advantages.
At the same time, panelists raised concerns about transparency, bias, hallucinations and the difficulty of embedding ethical values into AI systems. They also noted that organizations are struggling to keep pace with governance and policy development as individuals adopt AI tools independently.