Stony Brook University Technology, AI, and Society

On Thursday, October 29, 2026, the student club, Technology, AI, and Law, and Prof. Gim hosted an insightful guest lecture by Prof. Maurice Bess titled "Artificial Intelligence in Video Games" during EST 440 course in Room B105. During the session, Prof. Bess and attendees explored key topics surrounding the intersection of AI, interactive design, and the gaming industry: History & Evolution: Traced the historical development of video game AI and the milestone moments when interactive design emerged, examining its significance and how it has evolved over time. Modern Interactive Design: Analyzed how interactive design is expressed in today’s gaming landscape to create engaging player experiences. Industry Trends & Dilemmas: Discussed the rapidly increasing role of AI in game development alongside an interesting market dynamic—while developers are adopting AI tools more than ever, many gamers remain hesitant to play games built with AI. Interactive Discussion: Attendees engaged in a thought-provoking Q&A on how the gaming industry should navigate these shifting consumer perceptions and technical possibilities moving forward. Thank you to Prof. Maurice Bess for a fantastic presentation, and to all the students and faculty who attended and contributed to the discussion!  

On Monday, October 26, 2026, the Department of Technology, AI, and Society (DTAS) successfully hosted its 6th Annual Faculty Panel, titled "AI4Good?", in Room C105. Moderated by Prof. Pennings, the event brought together faculty and students for an engaging discussion on how artificial intelligence can drive socio-economic development and positive social change.   Our faculty panelists shared insightful perspectives on the opportunities and challenges surrounding AI: Prof. Pennings moderated the session and introduced key discussions. Prof. Cabuay discussed key issues in AI Governance.  Prof. Dreamson explored Human-AI Collaboration from the AI’s perspective.    Prof. Bak presented on leveraging Large Language Models (LLMs) for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and health behavior change.    Prof. Brown presented on cybersecurity and humanitarian technology. Prof. Gim examined sociotechnical resilience and AI applications in environmental policy. Thanks to the active participation and insightful questions from our students, the panel was a highly engaging and constructive session for everyone. Thank you to all who joined us!  

We are pleased to announce the publication of Deepening the Concept of Inquiry through IB TOK, co-authored by Prof. Neal Dreamson from the Department of Technology, AI, and Society. Title: Deepening the Concept of Inquiry through IB TOK (IB TOK로 탐구의 깊이 더하기) Authors: 손민호, 조현영, 박영주, 최화영, Neal Dreamson Publisher: Hakjisa (학지사) Publication Date: September 30, 2026 Grounded in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Theory of Knowledge (TOK), this book re-examines the fundamental question "What does it mean to know?" within today's educational context. We congratulate Prof. Dreamson and his fellow authors on this publication!

Dear TAS Students and Faculty, We are pleased to announce that the Department of Technology, AI & Society will be hosting the TAS Graduate Program Information Session with the department graduate program director, Prof. Neal Dreamson. The session is designed to provide comprehensive insights into our graduate program options available for advanced studies. Please see the event details below for more information. Event Details Topic: TAS Graduate Program Information Session Date & Time: Tuesday, October 20, 2026 | 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM (17:30 – 18:30) Location: Room C103 (SUNY Korea) RSVP / Registration: Google Form Link (or scan the QR code in the flyer) We encourage all interested students to attend! For more details, please refer to the attached flyer.    

On October 14, 2026, Prof. Neal Dreamson from the Department of Technology, AI, and Society delivered a keynote address and participated in a panel discussion at the 2026 Seoul International Baccalaureate (IB) Conference, hosted by the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education at Woomyeon Hall. During his presentation titled “Fostering Future Competencies in Students through IB,” Prof. Dreamson explored educational directions in the AI era and highlighted the core values of IB programs.  The conference provided participants with valuable insights into the future of education and offered an opportunity to discuss practical approaches to student competency development.      

Dear TAS Students and Faculty, We are pleased to announce that Prof. Neal Dreamson has been invited as a keynote speaker for the upcoming 2026 Seoul International Baccalaureate (IB) Conference, hosted by the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education. The lecture will explore educational directions in the AI era, focusing on fostering future competencies in students and the core values of IB programs. Please see the event details below for more information. Event Details Topic: Fostering Future Competencies in Students through IB (Educational Directions in the AI Era and the Value of IB Programs) Date & Time: Saturday, November 28, 2026, 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM Location: Woomyeon Hall, Seoul Metropolitan Center for Educational Training Speaker: Prof. Neal Dreamson (Keynote Speech & Panel Discussion) Please join us in celebrating Prof. Dreamson's achievement!

On October 6, 2026, Prof. Neal Dreamson from the Department of Technology, AI, and Society gave a guest lecture titled “Ethics in the Age of AI” at the IGC Complex. During the lecture, Prof. Dreamson discussed how critical and ethical thinking can help us navigate the growing role of AI in our everyday lives. He also raised questions about trust and responsibility in AI-assisted decision-making, including how far we should rely on AI-generated results and who should be responsible when things go wrong. The lecture gave participants an opportunity to think about our relationship with AI and what it means to use these technologies responsibly.      

Dear TAS Students and Faculty, We are pleased to announce that Prof. Maurice Bess will be delivering a guest lecture titled "Artificial Intelligence in Video Games." The lecture will explore the technical evolution of game AI, ethics and societal implications, and industry and player perspectives. Please see the event details below for more information. Event Details Topic: Artificial Intelligence in Video Games Date & Time: Thursday, October 29, 2026 | 3:30 PM Location: Room B 105 (SUNY Korea) Speaker: Prof. Maurice Bess We encourage all interested students and faculty to attend! For more details, please refer to the attached flyer.    

Dear TAS Students and Faculty, We are pleased to announce that Prof. Neal Dreamson will be delivering a guest lecture titled "Ethics in the Age of AI". The lecture will explore critical and ethical thinking in the era of AI, covering frontier AI model behaviors, AGI evolution, and human-AI collaboration. Please see the event details below for more information. Event Details Topic: Ethics in the Age of AI Date & Time: Tuesday, October 6, 2026 | 4:00 PM Location: IGC Complex, 5th Floor Small Theater Speaker: Prof. Neal Dreamson Pre-registration: RSVP Form Link Note on Language & Interpretation: When completing the RSVP form, you can select your preferred language (Korean or English). An interpretation service will be provided for English speakers upon registration. This lecture is a fantastic opportunity to deepen your understanding of how artificial intelligence is transforming ethics and human-AI collaboration. We encourage all interested students and faculty to attend! For more details, please scan the QR code on the attached flyer.  

Prof. Johng-Ihl Lee from our department recently hosted a special gathering for our students participating in the SBU visit for the fall 2026 - spring 2027 semesters. On August 19, 2026, Prof. Johng-Ihl Lee visited the main campus to meet with our students, sharing delicious pizza, catching up on their initial transition, and offering encouragement for the upcoming semester. The TS Department is deeply committed to supporting our students' academic journeys and personal growth, no matter where they are. We hope our visiting students have a rewarding and fulfilling semester at SBU. Remember, the TS family is always here for you. Please never hesitate to reach out whenever you need guidance or support. Wishing everyone fantastic visiting semesters!  

Prof. Cabuay recently delivered the 2nd keynote speech at the 2026 International Conference of the Korean Society of Fashion Business held at DDP in Seoul. Under the conference theme "Weaving the Future", Prof. Cabuay addressed the current challenges facing modern creative industries: AI governance, intellectual property, and technological ethics. In his address, he emphasized that organizations must maintain strict institutional discipline and human oversight over automated outputs, rather than viewing AI as a mere production tool. "AI can imitate the output. It cannot hold the judgment. That still belongs to people." - Prof. Cabuay. Prof. Cabuay left the industry with five pivotal questions regarding source accountability, creative DNA protection, and the risks of prioritizing speed over human judgment. His commentary reflects the ongoing engagement of DTS faculty and students in addressing the impact of technology on society and industry leadership. Read Prof. Cabuay's full analysis on LinkedIn: View the Original Post Here

Dear DTS Students and Faculty,   We are pleased to announce that Prof. Cabuay will be a keynote speaker at the 2026 International Conference: WEAVING THE FUTURE, Celebrating 30 years of Transformation in Fashion, Technology, and Ethical AI.   Following his recent talk on AI careers, Prof. Cabuay will deliver a keynote lecture on the critical intersection of ethics, copyrights, and generative AI within the creative fashion industry.   Please see the event details and the attached file for more information   Event Details Conference Theme: WEAVING THE FUTURE: Celebrating 30 Years of Transformation in Fashion, Technology, and Ethical AI Date: June 20, 2026 (Sat) Location: Design Hall, Design Lab (3F), DDP, Seoul, Korea Hosted by: The Korean Society of Fashion Business   Prof. Cabuay's Keynote Session Topic: Keynote Lecture 2 - Ethics, Copyrights, & Generative AI in the Fashion Industry Time: 14:10 - 15:00 (50 mins)   This conference is a fantastic opportunity to explore how artificial intelligence is transforming global business models and creative industries. In addition to Prof. Cabuay's lecture, the event features key sessions in cooperation with industry leaders and FIT.   For registration fees and more details, please scan the QR code on the attached flyer.      

We are pleased to announce the official release and distribution of ICT4D & Future Global Sustainability. This textbook is a collaborative achievement under the guidance of Prof. Pennings and TSM students, with valuable contributions and technical editing from our dedicated students. The full open-access PDF is now available for download. We encourage students to utilize this resource for their academic portfolios and relevant coursework. Title: ICT4D & Future Global Sustainability Authors & Contributors: Prof. Anthony J. Pennings, Onhyuck (Andy) Choi, Ashley Won, Sean Kim, Minseo Kim, Seohee Maeng, Seyoon Jung, Ryunyoung Ko, Chaeryeong Kim Authorized Version: June 2026

We are absolutely thrilled to share some wonderful news and a deeply proud moment for our department! Team OptimiPrime—composed entirely of our very own Department of Technology and Society (DTS) students, Sunwoo Han, Sean Kim, and Sunghun Park—has won 1st Place and the Grand Prize at Hackathon The X 2026, held at the Incheon Global Campus. Competing against 14 highly talented groups, our exceptional students truly stood out as the only team proudly representing DTS. Their winning project, UnitTrace, is a secure macOS-based application perfectly tailored to the hackathon's theme of “Offline to Online” digital transformation. Rather than building a typical consumer app, the team took on a highly specialized and practical challenge: how to safely digitize sensitive paper documents in ultra-high-security environments where the internet, cloud storage, smartphones, and USB drives are strictly banned. UnitTrace brilliantly bridges this gap by turning scanned documents into encrypted, searchable, and auditable digital records—all running locally on a closed workstation without any public internet access or external APIs. What makes this victory even more special is how our students seamlessly connected classroom learning with real-world application. One of the students shared that the team directly applied the economic and project management frameworks they learned in EST 392 with Prof. Pennings. Instead of presenting just a technical demo, Team OptimiPrime analyzed UnitTrace as a real-world product, integrating market structure analysis, advanced product differentiation (such as local AES-256 encryption and user watermarks), and a viable defense procurement business model. While UnitTrace is currently a powerful prototype, this hackathon has beautifully proven that meaningful digital transformation is possible even in the most restricted environments. Please join us in warmly celebrating Sunwoo, Sean, and Sunghun for their creativity, hard work, and brilliant representation of our department! We could not be prouder of your incredible achievement.

The Department of Technology and Society’s BS student, Dongchan Kim, has achieved a remarkable victory at the "MIT Reality Hack," one of the world's premier XR (Extended Reality) and spatial computing competitions hosted by the MIT Media Lab. Representing the TS Department on a global stage, Dongchan’s team was honored with the Overall Final Grand Prize, as well as 1st Place in the Meta Track. Following this success, Dongchan was invited by Meta to discuss his project’s future and has been invited to present at a Spatial Computing conference in California this June—a leading event for XR professionals and researchers worldwide. The Department is incredibly proud of Dongchan’s success and his commitment to driving innovation. (Relevant Links): MIT Reality Hack: https://www.realityhackatmit.com/ AWE USA 2026: https://www.awexr.com/usa-2026/