Critical Conversations

Artificial Intelligence & the Author

Sean Michaels, Tom Froh and Paris Marx

6:30pm

Sunday, October 1

60 mins

TIFA’s most provocative conversation series returns. Critical Conversations brings together authors and industry experts in candid conversation to examine the facets of culture and politics that shape the world around us and the books we read. The creation of AI models like ChatGPT open up new worlds of creativity with powerful tools for research and creative fulfilment. It also makes us vulnerable to creative mimicry and forgery. Both raise existential questions around authorship and ownership alongside very practical issues of how copyright, creative independence and incomes are maintained. Our panel of authors and activists explore these issues and creative opportunities. Featuring Scotiabank Giller Prize-winner Sean Michaels, whose new novel features a poet making a creative pact with AI; writer Tom Froh; and Paris Marx, tech critic and podcast host of Tech Won’t Save Us. Moderated by Danny Ramadan, Chair of The Writers’ Union.

Please note, the time of this event has changed. The event will begin at 6:30pm in the Studio Theatre.

This event will be followed by a book signing.

Panel Discussion

How to attend

$39.99

Single Day Pass

$69.99

Weekend Pass

$249.99

Full Festival Pass

Students and youth save up to 50% on passes.

Please note, the time of this event has changed. The event will begin at 6:30pm in the Studio Theatre.

This event will be followed by a book signing.

Panel Discussion

Featured Authors

Sean Michaels

Sean Michaels was born in Stirling, Scotland, in 1982. Raised in Ottawa, he eventually settled in Montreal, founding Said the Gramophone, one of the earliest music blogs. He has since spent time in Edinburgh and Kraków, written for the Guardian and McSweeney’s, toured with rock bands, searched the Parisian catacombs for Les UX, and received two National Magazine Awards.