McGill Philosophy Students' Association

We would like to thank our community and all of our execs for the past year!! Take care, and best of luck with finals!!

-The PSA Team

Jeff Sebo (NYU) Lecture: Next Steps for AI Welfare Research and Policy

Date: April 23, 2026
Time: 4:00-6:00pm
Location: Leacock Building, Room 26, 855 Sherbrooke Street West

This talk examines why AI welfare matters, how societies will react to AI welfare, and how societal reactions should factor into AI development. It first argues that there is a realistic possibility that some near-future AI systems will be conscious and/or robustly agentic, making AI welfare and moral status a pressing issue. It then examines how society is likely to respond to this possibility, drawing lessons from historical and ongoing attitudes toward animal consciousness, agency, welfare, and moral status. Finally, it considers implications for AI design, proposing that systems should be engineered to elicit emotional responses that appropriately track their capacities and moral status, while navigating uncertainty, disagreement, and user autonomy.

Biography: Jeff Sebo is Associate Professor of Environmental Studies, Affiliated Professor of Bioethics, Medical Ethics, Philosophy, and Law, Director of the Center for Environmental and Animal Protection, and Director of the Center for Mind, Ethics, and Policy at New York University. His research focuses on animal minds, ethics, and policy; AI minds, ethics, and policy; and global health and climate ethics and policy. He is the author of The Moral Circle and Saving Animals, Saving Ourselves and co-author of Chimpanzee Rights and Food, Animals, and the Environment. He is also an advisory board member at the Jeremy Coller Centre for Animal Sentience, an advisory board member at the Insect Welfare Research Society, an advisor at Eleos AI Research, and a senior affiliate at the Institute for Law & AI.

This talk is sponsored by the Stephen A. Jarislowsky Chair in Human Nature and Technology and McGill’s Philosophy, Technology, and Policy Lab. No prior registration is required.

Congratulations to the newly elected executive members for 2026-2027!

(2 slides): As always, please DM us if you have any questions/difficulties! Hope to see you there tomorrow!!

UPSS Aplications are open! Applications are due on April 26th! More information on the next slide and link in bio!

Please DM us if you have any questions, or if you cannot attend the session but still wish to vote!!

Join us for Philm Night on Thursday April 2nd in LEA927! To stay in theme with the long weekend, join us to watch Jésus à Montréal by Denys Arcand. The movie will be watched in the original Québécois acting, with english subtitles.

“Denys Arcand’s Jésus de Montréal is a provocative satire about an actor whose life increasingly comes to resemble that of Jesus during a production of the Passion Play. An exploration of spirituality in an age of materialism and consumerism, the film won two major prizes at the Cannes Film Festival and 12 Genie Awards, including best screenplay, director, actor and motion picture.” (The Canadian Encyclopedia, 2017).

“Jésus de Montréal de Denys Arcand est une satire provocante à propos d’un acteur dont la vie se met à ressembler de plus en plus à celle de Jésus, alors qu’il monte une pièce de théâtre inspirée de la Passion. Exploration de la spiritualité dans une époque de matérialisme et de consommation effrénée, le film a remporté deux prix majeurs au Festival de Cannes et douze prix Génie, notamment dans les catégories Meilleur scénario, Meilleur réalisateur, Meilleur acteur et Meilleur film.” (L’Encyclopédie Canadienne, 2017).

Unfortunately this event will be replacing the wine and cheese.

You are encouraged to bring your own snacks and beverages as well!

Notice of General Assembly and PSA Executive Elections in Leacock 931, on April 7th, 2026!

Check our Linktree in bio for the descriptions of the positions!

You are cordially invited to the Philosophy Student Association’s Annual Symposium!
​Join us on April 8th at Thomson House (Ballroom) from 6:30 PM to 10:00 PM for an evening of engaging discussion and celebration.
​This year, we are thrilled to be joined by Fragments to mark the launch of their spring edition. Come hear from fellow undergraduates, professors, and graduate students, and enjoy a sweet night to close out the semester.
​Please note: While this is not an 18+ event, a valid government-issued ID is required to access the bar.
​We look forward to seeing you there!

(RSVP in bio).