Theresa Payton Explores AI, Ethics and Human Flourishing at Annual Jackson Lecture
Theresa Payton, the first woman to serve as White House Chief Information Officer and a nationally recognized cybersecurity expert, visited Baylor as the featured speaker for the Honors College’s annual Laura Blanche Jackson Endowed Lectureship in World Issues. Her lecture, “AI and the Future of Us: Navigating the Promise and Perils of Artificial Intelligence,” explored the opportunities and challenges presented by rapidly advancing technology and the importance of keeping humanity at the center of innovation.
The evening also offered an opportunity to celebrate the life and enduring legacy of Laura Blanche Jackson alongside members of the Jackson family, whose continued connection to Baylor and support of the lectureship help bring leading voices on significant issues facing the world to the University community each year.
"Each year, Frank and Darba Jackson – along with many family members and friends – return to Baylor to attend this memorial lecture and make it truly special,” said Dean of the Honors College Douglas Henry, Ph.D.. “Like Laura, they abound in intelligence, kindness, and interest in our world. When Laura passed away in 1992, the World Wide Web was in its infancy and Artificial Intelligence was decades from the popular imagination. It’s nonetheless easy to imagine that what Theresa Payton shared would have piqued Laura’s interest and moved her both to thought and action.”
That spirit of thoughtful engagement with a changing world carried into Payton’s remarks, as she challenged the audience to consider not only what artificial intelligence can do, but how it can be developed and used in ways that preserve human agency, responsibility and connection.
“I am a technologist at heart who’s on team humanity,” Payton told the audience. “My focus is always on how does technology support the human user story, and not the other way around. I believe technology exists to serve humanity. Organizations that are going to lead are going to be the ones that innovate boldly but govern responsibly.”
Payton served as White House CIO from 2006 to 2008 under President George W. Bush, overseeing technology for the Executive Office of the President. Drawing from her experiences at the White House and more recent conversations with governments, universities, and businesses around the world, she emphasized trust as an essential component of responsible technological innovation.
“No matter what major you have chosen, AI is going to touch it,” she said. “We have to come together and figure out the ethics, and the next generation will be called upon to lead.”
Payton highlighted ways AI is already contributing to medical discoveries, wildlife protection, education and elder care while also warning of its ability to amplify misinformation, fraud and manipulation. Drawing from research for her book Manipulated: Inside the Cyberwar to Hijack Elections and Distort the Truth, she encouraged students to think critically about the information presented to them through social media and emerging AI tools.
“Be careful how much time you spend with your AI assistants, because they’re going to be very good at telling us things we want to believe,” Payton said. “The next manipulation campaign may not come from your social media feed, the people you know or the accounts you follow. It may actually come from the very tools you use every day.”
Ultimately, Payton challenged students to approach technological change with curiosity and discernment, remembering that innovation is most valuable when it advances rather than diminishes human flourishing.
“You can’t let technology manipulate you and get you off track from your set of ethics, Payton said. “You don’t let the algorithms give you more than what you came for, and make sure you feed your mind and your soul and your inspiration.”
If you are interested in supporting the Laura Blanche Jackson Endowed Memorial Lectureship in World Issues, please reach out to Director of Development Kasey Ashenfelter.